A combined interdenominational public church service will be held to remember all who have died in Vanuatu as a result of Cyclone Pam, as the Wairarapa community co-ordinates its support for the relief efforts.
The service will take place at St Luke's Union Church, Queen St and Worksop Rd, Masterton, at 5pm today and will give those present the opportunity to express love, peace and hope for the people of Vanuatu. It is the first stage in an action plan devised at a meeting of Masterton District Council, Pacific, church, Rotary and iwi representatives last Friday to discuss the community's response to the Vanuatu Cyclone appeal.
The Vanuatu Consulate in Auckland, as well as the New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu, have advised that food, shelter, water, clothes and medical supplies are the most urgent requirements. Over and above these basic human needs, financial donations are desperately sought.
The meeting resolved that members of the Wairarapa community who wish to donate money can continue to do so through the reputable global non-government agencies currently working in and supporting Vanuatu: Red Cross, Save the Children Fund and Unicef.
There will also be an opportunity for people to donate money to the appeal at today's church service. All money collected will be accounted for and managed by the four district-wide Rotary clubs.
