Matamata Chronicle

Unique ways to lend a hand

- ERIN REILLY

Opinion: It goes without saying that the last couple of years have been pretty tough.

Now more than ever, communitie­s need to band together to help lift each other’s spirits, remind each other that we’re not in this alone, and support our neighbours who need an extra helping hand. But where do we start? Here are some unique ways to give over the coming months.

As the cost of living continues to rise, more and more families are struggling to fill their bellies with good, healthy, hearty food, and sadly food banks and community pantries are becoming increasing­ly relied on.

Resene’s Hunger for Colour campaign helps restock shelves of Salvation Army food banks around the country.

Since it started seven years ago, Resene has collected more than 275,000 cans of food to support struggling Kiwis.

It’s simple: drop into your nearest Resene ColorShop with two cans of food, and receive a Resene testpot of your choice.

Hunger for Colour runs for the month of February.

Find out more informatio­n at www.resene.co.nz/hunger-forcolour.

When my second child didn’t need her cot anymore, it sat in our garage for months, taking up space and collecting an impressive collection of spiders.

Finally I listed it for free on my local Neighbourl­y page – and the amount of interest I got from local families was eye-opening.

We all go through different life stages, and sometimes that means declutteri­ng.

But before you take your trash to the dump, remember that it could be someone else’s treasure.

Giving away good-quality belongings that still have a lot of life left in them is a great way to share the love with families in need.

If you don’t have things to give away, perhaps you could donate some time instead.

If you’re particular­ly good at sewing, babysittin­g, building, or gardening, offer up your time and skills to someone who needs a few hours’ help.

Perhaps a family could drop their kids off to your place while they go out to work for a few hours – or simply because they need a break. Post your skills and time on your local Neighbourl­y page and help your community in a way that only you can.

Humans aren’t the only ones who are doing it tough.

Many New Zealand wildlife charities are struggling to do their important mahi as New Zealanders increasing­ly have to choose between supporting their families and supporting our native taonga.

Save the Kiwi has just launched a new initiative called Donate a Day, which allows New Zealanders to help save our national bird by donating the dollar value of a day of earned annual leave.

Many of us have heaps of annual leave that we can’t use at the moment so this is a great way to do something good with it when we can’t necessaril­y go on holiday.

Find out more at www. donateaday.kiwi.

Life isn’t always easy at the moment, but it’s reassuring to know that we’re all in this together.

Let’s do what we can to lend a hand. It doesn’t have to be much – even the smallest act can go a long way for someone who really needs it.

 ?? ?? Nicole Johnstone from Resene ColorShop Johnsonvil­le and Robert Adams from the Salvation Army in Johnsonvil­le.
Nicole Johnstone from Resene ColorShop Johnsonvil­le and Robert Adams from the Salvation Army in Johnsonvil­le.

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