Toi Ohomai Charity house sale gifting $40,000 to community groups

A house built by Toi Ohomai carpentry and electrical students in 2018. Photo / File

$40,000 raised from Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology's Charity House project was gifted to several Rotorua community groups last week.

Among the projects funded were an initiative to help disadvantaged children in Rotorua, a new therapy pony for the city's Riding For the Disabled group and a cellphone to enable medics in the Whakarewarewa Forest to be on call during the week.

Toi Ohomai council chair Cathy Cooney presented the cheques, along with Rotorua Sunrise Rotary Club president Rosie Waller.

The Charity House project started in 2013 and was a 10-year training and partnership programme, which involved a collaboration between Toi Ohomai, Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, Rotorua Sunrise Rotary Club and the Rotorua Lakes Council.

Each year, one house was built by Toi Ohomai's carpentry, electrical and interior design students with the support of the business community, and then auctioned off with the proceeds going community groups.

The project was largely assisted with the support of local sub-contractors and suppliers.

Toi Ohomai was building another Charity House this year at the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park.

COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO RECEIVED FUNDING:

- Western Heights Community Association
- Society of St Vincent De Paul
-Rotorua Mountain Bike Club
-Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust
-Rotorua Musical Theatre Incorporated
-Visions of Helping Hand Charitable Trust Rotorua
-Rotorua Musical Theatre Incorporated
-Rotorua Citizens Advice Bureau
-Rotorua District Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporated
-Stand Children's Services
-Combined Rotary Clubs of Rotorua Charitable Trust
-Rotorua Hospital Chaplaincy Trust
-Parkinson's NZ
-Rotorua Sunrise Rotary Club.