Project brings cheer to stricken farms
When times were tough in rural areas care was on the way
Central Hawke’s Bay woman Diana Greer appreciates a good hug. She’s been getting her fair share of them lately and it all goes to show — what you give out, you get back.
Greer is the spark in the engine that drives The Collective Hug, a network of volunteers working to bring some cheer to the Hawke’s Bay farmers battling against the ravages of recent weather and the challenges of making a living from the land.
The Collective Hug germinated during the drought of 2020, which combined with Covid to create “the perfect storm” for primary producers.
“When Poppy Renton started the HB Farmers Drought Page on Facebook, to offer farmers positive messages and help, I thought it was a great initiative and offered to make a couple of fruit cakes,” Greer says.
That was the start of it.
Fruit cakes became food donations, people started baking and from her CHB home Greer organised delivery runs in May and mid-July, 2020. A company donated 30 tonnes of dog roll, pallets of canned soup arrived, and many other contributions were made and Greer organised more deliveries.
“It all happened so fast, it’s a bit of a blur now. I came up with the name ‘The Collective Hug’ because that’s what it felt like.
“The rural fraternity is good at helping one another. They have each other’s backs.
“I’m passionate about anything rural and always have been so it felt like a good thing to do — helping each other and giving morale a boost.
“A lot of people baked and donated and a lot of people helped deliver.
“During that drought we covered from Te Pohue and Tutira towards Po¯rangahau and everything in between.”
When Cyclone Gabrielle struck in February, Greer and her husband Jerry — a Central Hawke’s Bay district councillor — were at a beach and she said: “I have to do something — I think I’ll crank up The Collective Hug again.
“The two events were polar opposites, but they needed the same sort of response. I was asked to do an interview on the radio, which I did and then the offers of help started coming in. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were offered, and we took this up and did a huge drop-off to Tutira.”
Donations of food started arriving, a bank account was opened and people donated funds, which Greer used to buy green vegetables, milk, cheese and butter for delivery to areas that had little access. Greer also put out a call for bread makers and was given five; they were delivered to areas also with limited access, along with bread mix, yeast, dozens of eggs and litres of milk.
There was even a welcome donation of 3000 paper bags.
Greer got in touch with Whittaker’s and it donated a huge amount of chocolate treats, Taupo¯ Pak’nSave gave Easter eggs, and after an email to Scully’s three boxes of body products arrived at her front door.
A friend who worked in a pharmacy got in touch with an Elizabeth Arden rep and not long afterwards Greer was told there were 35 boxes of product.
“I thought they would be samples, but it was Ceremide face cream, White Tea fragrance and hand cream and the wonderful eight-hour cream, the look of delight on the women’s faces realising there is a treat especially for them is so heartwarming.”
Over a coffee at the Paper Mulberry, Travis Henry of Henry’s Pies came on board, using product donated by First Light Meats and Anzco to make meat pies.
Women from Auckland sent pallets of meals, Taranaki Rural Women sent two pallets of meals and baking.
“I made best friends with people all over the countryside who have chillers. In the early days, we got given sugar, flour, rice and pasta to make meals. My grandkids’ bedroom was full of foodstuffs.
“Makirikiri Marae have picked up product to cook with, they cook weekly for distribution.”
Greer is adamant The Collective Hug is a collective effort.
“I could do all I like but there’s no way I could co-ordinate let alone complete all these deliveries.
“The Collective Hug relies on all our bakers and cooks and deliverers, and the goodwill of other people.
“We have a co-ordinator in most districts, from Putorino to Pongaroa, they choose the date and let me know how many parcels will be required, I organise the goodies and help pack. Then we let the district know we’re coming.
“The reaction when people get a parcel just makes my day. I love doing the deliveries on a fine day, but it’s just as important to be out there on a vile day. This random woman/man turns up and hands you a care package — it’s an acknowledgment of what has happened out in our rural areas, to our rural people. There’s still a lot of trauma out there.
“I was interviewed for radio, after the initial Collective Hug initiative in 2020, I was asked if there was another drought would I do it again and I said — yes, in a heartbeat, never thinking it might be a cyclone.”
To donate goods, funds or time to The Collective Hug, contact it on Facebook at Collective Hug HB or email collectivehughb@gmail.com