Our readers offer Sara food, cash and support

'I was a size 10. I'm a size 6 now,' says Sara. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A sole-parent student who lost a sixth of her weight because she could not afford to eat properly has been overwhelmed with offers of help since her story appeared in yesterday's Herald.

Eleven readers yesterday offered Sara one-off donations of cash or vouchers, and three offered ongoing support of $10 to $40 a week.

A cafe, a food store and a church offered food supplies, two people offered to fix her unwarranted car, two offered free parking near Unitec and one offered a lift to classes from her West Auckland home.

"I'm amazed at the good intentions of people, it's just amazing, totally," Sara said last night.

"If I take everything that people have offered it's like a lounge room full of food. So I suggest making a donation to the Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul, because there's other people that need it as well."

Sara gets $150 a week less on her domestic purposes benefit than she needs to get to Unitec in Mt Albert and support herself and her 12-year-old daughter.

She cannot get a student loan for living costs because she is on a benefit, and cannot get the training incentive allowance for beneficiaries because it was limited to people studying at level 3 or below in a Budget cut last year.

"A long-term solution is what I'm after," she said. "I'm looking for a part-time job. I can only do a Friday and every second weekend. Or I could take a boarder - we need a single female."

St Vincent de Paul Auckland manager Bill Van Dam said his agency would accept food donations for Sara at 478 New North Rd, Kingsland.

Labour list MP Carmel Sepuloni, who met Sara on Friday, has started a Facebook group for others in Sara's position called Single Parents Fight Against Discrimination - It's Not OK.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said she had "every respect" for Sara's efforts to better herself.

"She's doing it hard right now," she said. "I acknowledge that and am determined to ensure that every New Zealander in Sara's position gets all the help that the system can offer."

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