Local Businesses Help Cyclone Relief

Volunteers donated and helped to package up items to send to the cyclone hit areas

From large to small, many North Canterbury businesses have stepped up to help cyclone relief in the North Island. We caught up with a few of them to find out about their efforts.

words: Pattie Pegler images: Supplied

“When we saw the devastation we just said ‘we have to do something’”, says Kelly Hames, owner of the Super Choice Mandeville and Fresh Choice Oxford. “So I put a post out on social media and thought we might get a few things to send. But the response was amazing.” Both stores acted as drop-off points for food and other items that people donated. And the amount of donations was overwhelming says Kelly.

Many willing volunteers came along on a Sunday afternoon to help pack things onto pallets in preparation for shipping to the North Island.

“People want to be able to help,” says Kelly. “And this was about people doing what they can do.” Kelly also reached out to her business contacts and managed to raise $170,000 in monetary funds for the cyclone relief efforts. “This way we covered both bases,” she explains. “We sent immediate items that were needed and people donated and we asked businesses to raise finances with us.”

Meanwhile up in Culverden, Sarah Reed from The Grumpy Merino, also wanted to help. “I’m from Hawke’s Bay and my sister lives in Gisborne. It’s a place which I hold close to my heart and it was difficult watching the devastation from afar.”

Sarah put a call out on her social media with clear instructions on how to donate and what was needed. The response was overwhelming.

“I didn’t expect to get so many donations from our area,” she says. “People were super generous.” She took all donations to Mandeville and packed them up alongside Kelly Hames and the volunteer team.

“I think for many people down here,” says Sarah. “We’ve been displaced and experienced the extreme trauma and devastation after the Kaikoura Earthquakes. It was a super triggering time and this allowed our community to give some love from afar.”

Over at the Rangiora Vet Centre, the nursing team had to get up early to get baking and raise funds for Humans Helping Animals (HUHA). The HUHA team have been helping pets find their way back home, and providing safe, care for displaced animals in the regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. The RVC team wanted to offer whatever help they could and their bake sale raised $1336.40.

The team also wanted to thank the community for trusting that their baking is just as excellent as the care they provide to Rangiora’s four-legged furbabies!