Editorial: New home for Plunket gets closer

Way back at the start of the year, Hawke's Bay Today launched the Build a Home for Plunket fundraising campaign.

Some of you may remember we even auctioned mounted works by our staff photographers to raise money for the project to construct a $1.3 million new home for Plunket in the Bay, to be built in Onekawa.

It was a tough year for fundraising, a fact that became apparent to both Plunket and Hawke's Bay Today early in the campaign.

The country was overwhelmed by the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch and then Hawke's Bay was slammed by the catastrophic storm event of late April.

With so many people in need, it was hard to go to the public for funds, as important as the Plunket centre project is for the region.

Nevertheless, fundraising has continued, co-ordinated by a dedicated band of volunteers from Plunket and supported by some key businesses and generous individuals in Hawke's Bay.

Work began on Plunket's new home in October and the building frame is expected to be up in January.

The social and services hub, which will be completed next year, will provide access to multiple services focused on family support, with different agencies working from the centre.

A giant step forward came in the form of a $268,589 grant from the Lottery Communities Facilities Fund, some 22 per cent of the total cost of the project.

And yesterday Hawke's Bay Today reported the fact that local businesses were making donations in order to help with the kit-out of the centre.

BNZ Napier and Unison in partnership with Gifford Devine and Partners have made donations, as have Heretaunga Lions Club, the Mildred Wolstencroft Trust and others.

Through the year there have been business house challenges, pub quizzes, bucket shakes and many other activities to raise funds.

It has not been an easy road for Plunket but they are determined to build this facility for the young families of Hawke's Bay and they are going to succeed.