Fundraiser pushes towards $5m on final day
generators, bedding or hygiene kits to cut-off and under-supplied communities. Twenty-eight generators were supplied by the Red Cross to people living on the Napier-Taupo¯ road and in the Esk
Valley earlier this week, and Stuart-Black said 4000 volunteer hours have been worked by specialist teams on the ground.
Stuart-Black said it was hard to predict exactly what services would be needed over the next couple of months and how Red Cross would fit in, but she thought the Red Cross would provide frustrated communities with mental health support.
‘‘The tiredness and exhaustion that comes with that level of emotion and grief and loss... we’re seeing a combination of things playing out,’’ she said.
Stuart-Black wanted to assure donors that no administrative fee would be taken by the Red Cross and all the money was going straight into the relief fund.
Stuff CEO Sinead Boucher said she’d been blown away by the generosity of people, adding the amount raised so far was a reflection of just how much individuals and businesses desperately want to help.
‘‘It’s been incredible to see the donations and wonderful comments of support roll in,’’ Boucher said.
‘‘Every day our reporters and visual journalists on the ground in affected regions bring a fresh set of terrible, tragic stories and images of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle.
‘‘These stories have deeply affected so many people across the country, and compelled them to give what they can.’’
Boucher said she hoped the money raised would go a long way towards helping communities get back on their feet as the cleanup and recovery continued.
The funds raised will be split seven ways between the Red Cross and the Mayoral Relief Funds of the six regions identified at the start of the fundraiser – Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Tairā whiti.
Mayoral relief funds help local communities support whā nau, community organisations and marae after an emergency.