Rotorua Hospital staff bring gifts, food and Christmas extras to Waiariki Women's Refuge

Marc Van Krieken, from Rotorua Police and Helen Harris, from the Quality and Risk team with goodies for the Waiariki Women's Refuge. Photo/Supplied

Staff at Rotorua Hospital have dug deep and donated nearly 300 items of foods and gifts to the Waiariki Women's Refuge, in the lead-up to Christmas.

Rotorua Lakes District Health Board communications officer Sue Wilkie said staff from
a range of areas across the Rotorua Hospital campus filled up boxes with a feast of food staples and Christmas goodies, along with lots of wrapped presents.

The items were collected at its annual barbecue last week, she said, for the Christmas Aroha Hampers which were put together every year.

''The hospital units are the recipients of tremendous generosity and goodwill throughout the year, and our staff appreciate the chance to give back to the community.''

The refuge was a worthy cause as it aligned with its family violence intervention programme where it screened incoming patients that may be at risk.

''We work very closely with the refuge and non government organisations around that whole area of domestic violence and family violence. That is something our staff are impacted by most days so we have always found that works well for us.''

At this time of the year demand for services at the refuge reaches an all time high, Wilkie said, and hospital staff liked to help out with donations.

Waiariki Women's Refuge manager Paula Coker said the Rotorua community as a whole had been ''absolutely awesome''.

The donations from hospital staff had been gratefully received but it had kindergartens, colleges and people in general also dropping off items for the refuge, she said.

''We are overwhelmed...it means that we are able to better support our current women and children that are with us as well as also any who may become involved during the Christmas, New Year period.''