Ana Apatu: Thanks to big-hearted woman

Ana Apatu.

Some people have big hearts. Gabby Allen, mum to two young boys, meets Sarah Tawhai from Plunket and I at Bay Espresso Omahu Rd.

We catch up to hear about Gabby's Charity Drive "Jarmies for June". Gabby has 12,000 followers on facebook. I am impressed.

Her charity drive Out and About with kids in Hawke's Bay May/June 2016 www.outandaboutwithkids.co.nz, has captured many of you to donate PJ's for children.

I quote from Gabby's website "As I near the three year mark of solely running Out and About with my huge desire to make Hawke's Bay a better place for all, I felt it was time to run another charity drive. This year I thought about the cold and how it's not a reality for all kids and adults to be warm in the winter. I've been helping families out a lot behind the scenes at social media HQ. Recently amidst the poverty and hunger and cold I thought that a pair of new pjs or socks or a hat or all of the above would help keep the young and old warm this winter. As a child and even as an adult there is something very special about warm new pjs. It's homely! It's comforting and it makes you feel like you are cared for. What could we do to help clothe those in need? I phoned a hero of mine Henare O'keefe and chatted to him. U-Turn Trust would be grateful recipients so I thought let's do it."

Gabby, Sarah and I agree we are overwhelmed and humbled by our local community's response.

People want to contribute to those less fortunate than ourselves.

Sometimes, not often, I also read and listen to comments that make me wince. "Those people have Sky dishes, those people do not know how to budget." This one I have to respond to.

When practice manager for Ora Toa the health arm of Ngati Toa - I sat with one of our patients who was struggling to pay her fees to see our GP. On a benefit she described how she managed - carefully describing how much she had weekly and how this money was allocated.

She had allocated $50 for food for the week. Getting sick was one of those unexpected costs that pushed her budget out. I am one of those privileged who when I shop roughly know how much I am able to spend but there would be no way I would be able to manage on $50 a week for food.

These are good families struggling to make ends meet. Gabby Allen, well known within our community, is also employed (very part time) as the maternity services consumer member. This role aims to liaise with mothers, fathers and whanau to gain an understanding of what is working well with maternity services, and what needs to be improved.

As we unload 600 pairs of flannelette PJS into Sarah's car - we thank Gabby and promise to send her comments from the families.

So Gabby these comments are for you and for those of you who have contributed.

"This is the best day ever," from a little girl who was unwell and received new pjs, socks and a beanie. She could not thank us enough.

Twenty four out of the 26 children who received PJ's and thermals wore their thermals the next day to school. Apparently the children came in chirpy showing off their new thermals. A grandma said her moko (grandchild) put her thermal on after her shower at night and will not take it off.

"The children and families are so thankful," said a local primary school teacher.

"I can't believe there are still people out there who want to help people like us," contributed a solo mum. "You have no idea how much this helps, I don't usually like to take handouts from charity, but thank you so much," a nanny raising her grandchildren.

'I can't believe there are people out there who want to help' (while crying) a grandad.

"We are very blessed to have people like you caring for our community making sure we are ok," a thankful family.

- Ana Apatu is CEO of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.