I have written many times about the kindness of Hawke's Bay people and our readers in particular.
Whenever we report on someone who has suffered, we always get offers of help from our readers. It may be a tourist who has been robbed, or a single mother struggling to feedher children or someone who needs urgent medical attention overseas and has no money. People are so generous. Some offer all they can afford, while others give large amounts. Some help out in other ways, but there is always a steady stream of offers.
So, it was with our readers' history of giving in mind that we embarked on our Bring yer Boots campaign.
This was an initiative, launched last month, designed to give unwanted second hand boots to youngsters who needed them this winter. We did not care if they were rugby, league or soccer boots, we just wanted them. And how did our readers react? Exactly as we expected them to. Our offices have been fill of boots of all shapes and sizes - more than 250 of them.
We had some fabulous tales of people buying new boots and handing them in, a sports shoe shop owner donating a whole lot and people driving far distances to bring the boots in.
Once we collected nearly 200, we got Sports Hawke's Bay involved to help us distribute all the boots. They are identifying schools and clubs where there is a need. We still have a few more boots to hand out, but we are stopping the campaign for this year. It has been such a success that we will, almost certainly, do it again next year.
If this paper and its readers can make it possible for youngsters to get out there and play sport, then it will be worth doing it all again.
Thank you to all those who donated boots and to Sport Hawke's Bay for ensuring those in need get them.
