Orange cupcakes vs. domestic violence
A small, country town playcentre has made more than six times their fundraising target for the national campaign Light it Orange.
With merely cupcakes and donations Kaponga Playcentre has made more than $500 for the cause, which trumped their original goal of $80.
Light it Orange is a week-long campaign for Shine, a service that works toward stopping domestic abuse.
After spotting the campaign on Facebook the playcentre baked cupcakes and delivered packs to businesses who pre-ordered. One business, Eltham’s Clothing Barn, offered orange clothing for the Playcentre members to wear for the day.
Nika Booker, a playcentre member, originally suggested they raise money for the Light it Orange campaign because they had done so for other causes in the past.
‘‘It was something I suggested our playcentre do because we are with young, vulnerable children all the time,’’ she said.
Booker was a social worker years ago and worked with families in care and protection - something Shine helps with too.
’’It’s something that’s close to my heart in terms of keeping children safe and making sure that there’s things out there that do help families,’’ she said.
Even though the fundraising target was already tripled before the cupcakes came out of the oven, Booker and other playcentre members, along with children, stood in orange clothes outside the Four Square.
The playcentre also involved the children by holding a dress-up party and morning tea for a gold coin donation at the centre.
‘‘Back at the playcentre everyone is wearing orange as well and the children have had orange morning tea,’’ Booker said. ‘‘But our playcentre isn’t getting any money from this, it’s all going to Light it Orange.’’
Booker said they hoped to do more campaigns in the future.
‘‘It’s an issue that’s so prevalent
‘‘It was something I suggested our playcentre do because we are with young, vulnerable children all the time.’’
Nika Booker
in New Zealand and so many of us have such a heart for young children, it’s a really good cause,’’ she said.
The Light it Orange campaign featured many New Zealand celebrities and ran from March 4 10.