Adopt a family this Christmas
Salvation Army hopes Northlanders will show goodwill this festive season
Mum-of-five Rachel needs a range of help to get by every day and she’s one of 200 needy families in Whangarei that donors can help with food and presents for children this Christmas.
As the year draws to a close, the situation for many families to provide even the basic necessities this festive season becomes dire and Salvation Army Whangarei is among a number of organisations helping them with housing, food and budgeting support.
The organisation is calling for donors to sponsor food hampers and Christmas presents for 200 families, including Rachel’s.
Rachel, not her real name, is staying in transitional housing in Whangarei provided by the Salvation Army with her five children aged from six weeks to 15.
Her sister, who is under 18, is also staying with her family.
The Salvation Army’s transitional housing programme is usually for 12 weeks but Rachel has stayed for 24 weeks and is engaging with a social worker once or twice a week to discuss her daily needs.
The solo mum is trying to get into
Not only around Christmas but on every birthday, we’re unable to do anything.
Struggling mum ‘Rachel’
a private rental and find a job but her circumstances, particularly around finances, makes it near impossible.
“Even getting kids to school is a struggle. Not only around Christmas but on every birthday, we’re unable to do anything. My 8-year-old recently had her birthday but she understands our situation,” Rachel said.
She has applied for private rentals and been declined 98 times as landlords prefer smaller families.
Salvation Army Whangarei community ministries team leader Marlene Bowers said those who could not be accommodated in the adopt-a-family initiative would be invited to a community meal on Christmas Day.
At least 60 to 70 new families walked through the door to collect food parcels each week and they were either homeless or those that moved to Northland, she said.
Salvation Army Whangarei provides transitional housing to 29 families through 16 houses and two motels.
“Her (Rachel’s) struggle would be around private rental and we’re pushing for Housing New Zealand and Work and Income for help with that as well. For us, it’s about people engaging with us so that we’re able to do the best we can for them,” Bowers said.
“Housing is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of social issues behind their struggle and our adopta-family will bring huge relief to families this Christmas.”