Supporting the local firefighters
A Hawke’s Bay local has set up a fundraising page to give back to the firefighters who have been battling the blazes across Central Hawke’s Bay.
Waipawa resident Kaye Harrison, who set up the page, said she and other CHB locals want to give something back to show appreciation to the fire crews.
Seven large scrub fires have burned across Hawke’s Bay since the end of January, with firefighters from Hawke’s Bay and outside the region tackling the blazes in difficult conditions.
“We were watching the news reports and hearing the sirens going off all the time for the last few weeks, and were all thinking how tired they must be,” she said.
“I thought instead of the usual saying thank you on Facebook, that I’d do something about it.
“Our entire community appreciates them and just want to treat them to something nice as our way of letting them know we thank them,” Kaye said.
“I wanted our local heroes to really feel appreciated.”
Since setting up the page more than $1500 dollars has been pledged to the cause, with Kaye hoping to treat the “heroes”.
“I’m still receiving ideas on how to show our appreciation to our firefighters,” she said.
“The plan is to have a celebration — either a dinner or barbecue with their employers and families, with all the meals and drinks paid for by fundraising.
“We will invite other fire departments that also helped out recently with the fires and any money left over will be given to the fire departments to spend as they wish.”
Kaye, who is the third generation of her family to live in Waipawa, said she has not personally been affected by the fires, but “loves them [the firefighters] for their hard work.
■ To donate, go to givealittle. co.nz/cause/celebrating-ourlocal-heros