KEY POINTS:
A homegrown version of Bob Geldof's "Make Poverty History" campaign has been overwhelmed with gifts from Auckland schoolchildren - but has run out of money to get the donations to Fiji.
Blockhouse Bay solo mother Annie Hensley persuaded comedians, circus performers, clowns, dancers, musicians and other performers in her Purple Productions stable to perform free at 13 Auckland primary schools after seeing poverty in Fiji during a visit five months ago.
Children attending the shows were asked to donate basic medical supplies, school stationery, toys or children's books, clothes and shoes.
"I thought I was going to store it in the corner of my lounge and then somehow find the money to get it there," Ms Hensley said.
"But the project just went out of hand, the kids were so generous. We ended up with four tonnes of goods in 500 boxes."
Air New Zealand and Air Pacific have agreed to fly just over a tonne of the gifts between them without charge. But Air Pacific wants a reduced rate of $1700 for the rest.
"As a single mum there's no way I could raise that," Ms Hensley said. She is appealing to Herald readers to help.
"I think of myself as fairly poor, but I really understand poverty now," she said. "I came home so sad."
Ms Hensley, 44, a former teacher and nurse with two teenage sons, had not been beyond Australia before.
She went to Fiji with a friend, Kavai Velavela, to attend the wedding of Mr Velavela's brother.
They also visited his nephew's family in Vugelei village near Nausori.
"I met children covered with open sores with flies all over them. I was so upset that I bought medical supplies and started cleaning up some wounds," Ms Hensley said.
"There was one little boy who I was telling, 'When I've finished this you'll have to keep your shoes on.'
"He said, 'What is shoes?' He had never owned a pair of shoes, and he was 10.
"I visited families in tin shacks where they cook on a fire outside. The lucky ones had a tap outside the hut."
When she told her performers about it, 12 groups or individuals agreed to donate their shows to "Performers 4 Poverty".
And the children who went to the performances responded.
"Most children didn't just bring one item," Ms Hensley said. "They had obviously gone through their entire house and were bringing bags and boxes. It was incredible."
How to help
Anyone who can assist in getting the donated goods to Fiji can contact Annie Hensley on (021) 117-9324
