Kathy and Mita had received a number of offers of help but...had been unsure how to respond.Theft is often mindless but the taking of deaf couple Mita Moses and Kathy Strongman's van was senseless and galling.
Mita and Kathy face enough challenges on a day-to-day basis in life, without the need to deal with not only the theft, but the aggression of the person who felt compelled to burn it almost beyond recognition. Why? Thankfully, in Whangarei we have a trust that didn't spend too long contemplating why this had happened, and moved into "how" mode pretty quickly, as in "how can we help Mita and Kathy?" Tiaho Trust aims to be the leading proactive disability-led organisation in Northland. And proactive it was. Chief executive Jonny Wilkinson met with Mita and Kathy last week, and one of the outcomes of their conversation was the establishment of a bank account for donations for the couple. Jonny Wilkinson has known this family for many years and is co-ordinating offers of help for them. As he explained in Saturday's Advocate, Kathy and Mita had received a number of pledges to help but, still overwhelmed by the theft, had been unsure how to respond. The Advocate applauds Tiaho's response and would encourage readers moved by Mita and Kathy's plight to donate to their bank account at any branch of the ASB, or via online banking. We will keep readers informed of progress as we aim for the goal of replacing their vehicle.
To donate, please deposit funds to Mita and Kathy's Van account, at the ASB Bank in Rathbone St Whangarei. The account number 12-3099-0042959-00
