Howick Rotary has received more than 350 blankets from the community to donate to local charities.
The Blanket for Kids Appeal was organised to provide winter warmth to children in needy families.
Bill Charkow, a member of Howick Rotary, says the idea came from discovering that blankets are desperately wanted for kids in need.
“This is the first time we’ve done something like this,” Charkow says.
The blankets are collected from the public from the drop-off locations and transported to All Saints Anglican Church and Stand Children’s Services.
The three drop-off locations for the community to donate blankets were behind Ray White on Uxbridge Road, Grasslands on Moore Street and Howick College and closed on May 11.
All Saints will deliver them to the Anglican Trust for Women and Children.
“We’ve received around 100 blankets and 20 duvets,” Joanne Rutherford, Parish Administrator for All Saints, says. “We’re very grateful to the Howick community for their support and donations for this initiative.
Howick Rotary and All Saints have worked together previously.
Stand Children’s Services Regional Manager (Pou Toko) Pene Frost says that blankets became increasingly in demand during Covid-19 last year in April.
“It was suddenly a landslide of food and blankets,” Frost says. “We gave away everything in our pantries.”
Stand’s put the word out and Rotary, along with the community, “stepped up.”
Virtually overnight they had dozens of blankets.
“The community has always been quick to answer calls,” Frost says. “We’re so thankful.”
Through the Blankets for Kids Appeal, Stand has received 125 blankets and 40 duvets.
“We got around 20-30 hand-woven blankets from the Knitting in Public Group of Howick and Botany,” Malcolm Pascoe, Howick Rotary Community Committee Director, says. “We would like to thank them for their incredible and thoughtful donation.”
The 40 hand-woven blankets and Teddy Bears were given to Little More – the Middlemore Infant Birth Department.
Little More supports Kiwi families to nurture their babies and keep them warm and safe.
“We would also like to thank the East Auckland Zonta Club,” Charkow says.
“They’ve been a tremendous help.”
From the overwhelming support by the Howick community, Charkow says they would like to do a similar initiative the following year.
“It’s been a resounding success,” Pascoe says. “We would like to express gratitude to the community for their donations and dedication.”
