Bank staff team-up with Plunket

Most of Blenheim’s ANZ bank workers have stepped up to volunteer with Plunket, as part of a year-long volunteer commitment with the organisation.

Every Thursday morning for the next 12 months an ANZ worker will man the reception desk at Plunket Marlborough.

ANZ Branch manager Rachael Toia took up the desk for the second week of the partnership, and said there had been huge levels of enthusiasm among the staff.

‘‘We have a statement about helping people and communities to thrive and Plunket fits right into that,’’ Toia said.

"We’ve got 22 who have put their hand up, that’s pretty much everyone. Even the men staff are quite happy to do it too.’’

Like most ANZ staff, Toia had a personal connection to Plunket with her own children.

While ANZ had undertaken volunteer work in one-off events – such as helping to clean-up Taylor River after work one night last year – this was the first time they had engaged in a yearlong commitment.

Plunket Community Service Co-ordinator Tehya HenareToka approached ANZ several months ago, and said the bank was ‘‘pretty keen’’ to support the service.

‘‘Plunket’s touched a lot of lives in the community, whether it be as babies or with their own kids,’’ Henare-Toka.

‘‘So it’s sort of something everyone feels a little connection to.’’

Plunket is a New Zealand organisation that provides support services for the development, health and well-being of children under 5. Most of these services, such as parent groups, playgroups and drop in centres are available free of charge.

Henare-Toka said the organisation relied heavily on volunteers to deliver these services.

‘‘Our volunteers are so integral to getting anything done for Plunket, whether that be our front desk, volunteers, taking messages, calls, helping clients who come into our building, as well as the ones who run play groups and fundraisers.’’

She wanted to thank ANZ bank and said the volunteer commitment to Thursday mornings would make a huge difference to Plunket Marlborough.

SCOTT HAMMOND/ STUFF ANZ Branch manager Rachael Toia (Left), pictured with Tehya Henare-Toka, Plunket Community Service Co-ordinator was volunteering at the Plunket desk last week.