Have a Go Southland: New initiative aims to keep children
A How to Dad video on social media has kickstarted a new initiative from a Southland couple.
The video talked about Kids Can and how the charity needed people to donate so they could continue to support children in need.
It really hit home for Greg and Kate Pleasants-Tate and the sports-mad pair wanted to help the Southland community in some way.
“Seeing all those statistics on all those kids not having food and we thought how can we help in some way and be involved. Sports have been our life and we thought being involved with Star we would help them, but then Kate said we want to help the whole community and all sports,” former professional rugby player Greg said.
So while the pair have reached out to all the rugby clubs, they had now contacted football, hockey and netball clubs, and schools “to reach out”, Kate said.
They’ve named their initiative Have a Go Southland, and were hopeful the community would get behind it by donating sports gear..
On the list were old gym shoes, rugby or football boots, basketball shoes, netball shoes, hockey shoes, cricket shoes and any other sports clothing in reasonable condition that could fit children from five years old all the way through to 18.
“It’s blown up really fast and taken off. We’ve been contacted by radio stations, Property Brokers are keen to become involved. It’s happened really quickly. We’ve had lots of people reach out,” Kate said.
“We’ve had a really good response from people wanting to donate, even people without kids want to help, our challenge is just how we get it out to reach the people we want the donations to go to.”
With rising costs some children faced missing out on sport, and the couple want their initiative to take some of the burden off parents.. “We want to be able to pass on this sort of stuff to people, teams, families, who are in need, so children can continue to play sports. Times are getting tougher and often it is the kids who miss out on playing their sport because they can’t afford clothing for that sport, so we’re hoping this initiative will help keep young children playing,” Greg said.
Many people have offered to buy new gear, which the pair were grateful for.
“It’s a start up for us. The hardest part will be getting the clothing items to the people in need because often they are the ones who don’t want to reach out.
“Most of the clubs can tell the kids running around in school shoes or their school clothing,” Greg said. “And they can reach out to us as well and say this kid is a size 10, do you have anything, and we can say yes or no, but pass on that information to someone who wants to donate, so they know what to get.”
They have already accumulated plenty of gear for teenagers, but need more for younger children.
If the initiative builds on its promising start, the couple will consider setting it up as a foundation.