Cash fund appeal is nearing $7000

The Christmas Cheer Appeal had a great boost during the past couple of days.

The festive spirit and generosity of community clubs, businesses and schools has given the Christmas Cheer Appeal a great boost during the past couple of days.

The all important cash fund, which goes to paying the big bills for the groceries needed to fill the 960 bags and parcels which will be delivered to less fortunate families across Napier and Hastings, got a fine boost, with the cheer coordinators hoping that wonderful spirit will continue.

"We have been getting lots of great gifts but the cash fund is really important to us," said Michele Glogoski, of the Napier City Council Community Development.

The latest donations from the community accordingly brought smiles as the fund edged up towards $7000.

The students, parents and staff at Iona College in Havelock North have been annual supporters of the cheer appeal and this year once again were ready and willing to help the cause.

They put together four large boxes of gifts and goodies as well as contributing $500 to the cash fund.

"A really lovely, generous donation," Hastings cheer coordinator Jo Reyngoud, of Family Works, said as staff prepared to get them off to the packing centre later this week.

Napier legal firm Willis Toomey Robinson Scannell Hardy also came to the fore with a donation of $600.

They too are annual supporters of the appeal, as are the Lions and Rotary Clubs which have also sparked up again with donations.

Likewise the good folk at the Napier Cosmopolitan Club Centennial Charitable Trust who popped in with a cheque for $200.

The gifts have also continued to arrive, with one person dropping off a large bag of new children's books and coloured pens and pencils into the Napier office of Hawke's Bay Today.

The staff at Gladys Mary Rest Home in Tamatea also dropped off a box of foodstuffs.

Gifts and goodies have been arriving at all the drop-off points for the appeal, and cheer helpers have been regularly making pick-up missions.