Healthy boost for Christmas appeal

Napier Kiwanis Club president Bill Quinn (left), cheer helper Marek Dougan and club secretary Clinton Green with the piles of goodies for the appeal. Photo / Duncan Brown

There were so many brand-new toys, puzzles, games and other goodies that the Napier Kiwanis Club crew needed a truck to get them delivered to the Christmas Cheer Appeal packing rooms in Napier - and then needed large trolleys to get them inside.

Every year the Napier Kiwanis get behind the appeal as part of their community support programme and this year was no exception.

"So many boxes of brand-new toys - it has to be thousands of dollars worth," delighted appeal co-ordinator Michele Glogoski said.

"And they do it every year."

The donations were a great boost for about 450 Napier community parcels which will start being put together later this week.

The Hastings side of the appeal also received a tremendous boost through the generosity of the BNI Wine Country group.

Members of the business group gathered for a Christmas meal and took along donations for the Hastings side of the appeal, and they covered two tables.

Hastings co-ordinator Jo Reyngoud called to pick up the goodies that completely filled her car.

"There was a lovely mixture of gifts for adults as well as children - and there were also goodies like Christmas cakes and boxes of chocolates."

The BNL Wine Country group is a regular supporter of the Bay community - back in July they donated $2500 to Cranford Hospice.

Mrs Reyngoud said the appeal had also benefited from the generosity of other regular supporters such as the Keirunga Embroidery Club and Havelock North Probus.

The Multicultural Association of Hawke's Bay also stepped in to help and put together several boxes of food.

The cash donation side of the Hawke's Bay Today-driven appeal has also received a great boost.

One of the directors of Grow Human Resources called Mrs Glogoski and said they wanted to make a donation to the fund.

They stepped up with $1250 for the Napier cash appeal and Mrs Glogoski said they were also looking to give the Hastings side a boost as well.

That single donation pushed the total from individuals, businesses, service groups and schools close to the five-figure mark.

The appeal runs until December 19 and the parcels it will produce will make Christmas a cheerier time for more than 3000 less fortunate people in the community.

Cash fund

Previously donated $8511

Grow Human Resources Ltd $1250

Total $9761