Sleepless nights for Tongans
As a plea goes out for South Cantabrians to donate items to help raise funds for those affected by Saturday’s eruption in Tonga, those still waiting to hear from loved ones in the island nation are becoming desperate.
‘‘The waiting just seems like forever. We’re waiting for just one call to tell us they were fine, and they were safe. The waiting is killing me,’’ Tongan Society South Canterbury general manager Sina Latu said.
She had endured sleepless nights since Saturday, waiting for a call from her parents and siblings in Tonga.
‘‘Its frustrating and painful. My kids and I, we call our family in Auckland just checking in on each other which is really helpful.
‘‘I don’t know how long we’ll wait. We’re happy to hear New Zealand has sent a plane to see what’s happening there.’’
Latu said the Tongan community in South Canterbury feels the same way as her, as they anxiously wait to hear from family and friends.
‘‘Every Tongan around the world is coming together and uniting and praying and hoping to hear from families.’’
While the damage and needs of those in Tonga is not yet known, Timaru woman Andrea Hurst is charging ahead with an online auction and plans to list various items donated by residents to raise funds for those affected.
‘‘Donations will go to the Tongan Society South Canterbury,’’ Hurst said.
‘‘We have contacted Tongan Society South Canterbury, and they will know what to do with the donations.
‘‘We’re putting a call out for donations if anybody has any stuff they would like to donate.’’
Hurst said they planned to list auction items on a Timaru Charities social media page as the donations came through. They would also have a section with items for sale – rather than auction, she said.
Latu said ‘‘it is very kind of them to think of us and try to do something to help us’’.
She said the funds from the auction will be kept until they hear from the families in Tonga about what they need, such as clothes or blankets.
Waimate’s Rural Scholars Early Learning Centre has organised a ‘‘superhero-themed’’ dress-up day on Friday to raise funds to support the families affected in Tonga.
‘‘This is a cause close to our hearts as many of our own tamariki and kaiako families and friends are affected by this terrible event,’’ a post on the centre’s social media page said.