Northland's aid arrives to ease Vanuatu suffering

Lamine villagers wait to collect the donated goods.

Household items and clothing donated by Northlanders to a cyclone-ravaged village in Vanuatu have been distributed to those in need.

Gina Sammons' family in Whangarei sent a 20ft container three weeks ago to Lamine, a village about 50km from the capital Port Vila, to help people affected by Cyclone Pam, which wreaked havoc about a month ago.

Bedding, clothing, garden and building materials were among the items donated.

Ms Sammons said yesterday all the donated items were distributed by a Lamine villager early this week. An Australian working in Lamine helped transport the container to the village.

HELPED: A family who benefited from donated goods that arrived in the first container.

Ms Sammons is planning to send a second container to Vanuatu but needs $6000 to ship it to the islands.

So far she has collected half the container-load of items, much of it thanks to generous Northern Advocate readers, and a quarter of the cash needed to send it. As of yesterday, she had collected $500 in cash and a Kaitaia resident has pledged $1000.

Ms Sammons has met Horahora rugby club representatives, who are considering her request to sell soup and hold sausage sizzles during game days. "We're confident of collecting all the cash needed, although it will take us a bit of time. The goods collected so far will probably fill up half the container and more items are coming in," she said.

A family who benefitted from the donated goods that arrived in the first container.

-If you would like to help, contact Gina Sammons on 021 294 1861, email gina-sammons@yahoo.com or contact Sonja Guy on 09 434 7766. Alternatively, cash deposits can be made at any ASB branch on account 123093017631557.