Warmer winter for struggling Northland families from Red Cross
Some struggling Northland families are about to enjoy a warmer winter, thanks to Red Cross in Whanga¯ rei.
About 20 volunteers spent a day last week making up Winter Warmer packages including blankets, draught stoppers, beanies, socks, gloves, torches, a smoke alarm, pyjamas, noodles, soup, marshmallows and more, for distribution to about 100 families across the region.
Northland Red Cross community services manager Nancy Kareroa-Yorke said families had been referred to them by community agencies One Double Five Community House in Whanga¯rei, Foster Hope in the Far North and CCS Disability Action.
A few families the Red Cross worked with directly were also on the list.
So far 40 families in the Whanga¯rei area, and 25 from Kawakawa to Kaita¯ia, had been allocated packages, and Ms Kareroa-Yorke was expecting more referrals.
Red Cross corporate partnerships manager Matthew McCracken said the packages, which contained “little things that make a big difference,” would help families who had to choose between buying food and turning the heater on.
A duvet or blanket would be a huge help to those who could not afford to heat their whole house, he said.
“Things people take for granted, they just go out and buy it. A lot of families just can’t do that,” Mr McCracken added.
They would could also make a difference for those with respiratory illness.
The programme, which was part of a partnership with AMI, which provided the funding to purchase the items, began in Taranaki last year, and expanded to Northland and the Wairarapa this year.