With 30 schools now involved, raising money for this year’s programme was going to be a big job.
Individuals, foundations and clubs have all joined in. Some of those who donated were the Diocese of Palmerston North’s Catholic Charities, Hawke’s Bay Foundation, Clubs Hastings, Havelock North Primary School Home & School Committee, the Joan Fernie Charitable Trust and parishioner Peter Fama, who with his late wife Mary has had a long connection with Thermals for Children.
The organisers said they really appreciated all those who donated.
Not only was this a record number of donations but, after receiving the orders from 27 schools, it became clear they still had funds available to spend.
Pepping said this was at about the same time that Cyclone Gabrielle devastated Hawke’s Bay.
“We approached three schools in the Taradale and Napier area whose families were, we predicted, significantly impacted by the cyclone and we offered these schools the chance to participate in our project this year.
“Our offers were gratefully received.”
When the organisers initially contacted the Napier schools, they had one school offer to donate its allocation of thermals to schools whose families had been worse hit.
It was a wonderful gesture from this particular school, Pepping said, and she was pleased to be able to accept its order as well as provide extra clothing to other schools.
As a one-off, Thermals for Children was also able to respond positively to a request from two pre-schools.
“We are expecting the thermals to arrive very soon so that they can be distributed quickly.”
Once the thermals are delivered, Pepping asks the schools to provide feedback so the project remains relevant.
“We love receiving feedback and often we have received beautiful letters from children or families,” she said.
