The Rotary Club of Howick’s successful annual Blankets 4 Kids 4 Winter appeal has wrapped up for another year.
It ran throughout May and culminated with the hundreds of blankets donated by members of the public being sorted and packed at the Howick War Memorial Hall in Picton Street.
They’re now ready to be distributed to families in need through the organisation Stand Children’s Services along with All Saints Anglican Church and Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church.
Project convenor Rob Mouncey says there were a large number of cot and smaller blankets donated this year that will be delivered to the Littlemore baby charity in Auckland.
“We anticipated lower numbers this year due to local families having given their spare blankets in previous years, so we organized a donation portal through our web site to purchase new blankets.
“This year there was also a significant quantity of new blankets that people generously purchased themselves to drop off.
“The money from the donation portal combined with members’ donations being matched by the Howick Rotary’s Community Trust provided a sum in excess of $1500.
“We then approached Briscoes to seek their support and with their generous discount there will be a substantial quantity of new blankets from this source.”
Howick Rotary president Malcolm Pascoe says: “The success of this project is a measure of the caring and generous community we live in.
“It’s really pleasing to know that by working together we can ensure more needy kids are kept warm this winter.”
