Great people are all around us

The Aucklander teams up with The Good Guys stores to find the ultimate local person making a difference in his or her community.
Hundreds of Aucklanders have nominated their local heroes for our search, just a week after we announced our quest (for details and deadlines, see below).
From The Good Guys store in Botany, joint venture partner Majid Poortoossi says, "It is fantastic to read the stories submitted about people making a difference in their community and to see how many deserving Good Guys there are in our local area."
At Manukau, joint venture partner David Morris says, "I can't wait to meet the Ultimate Local Good Guys and reward them with a shopping spree at The Good Guys".
Here are some of the people nominated so far:
I'd like to nominate my father-in-law, Peter Wedde. Peter is in his mid-70s and has devoted his entire life to helping others. He has been a Presbyterian minister all his life, spending over 10 years in Papua New Guinea as a missionary with his wife and family.
Even though he is retired he still helps out at several parishes, always seems to be visiting the sick and the elderly. Though he is hugely active in his community in Mangere Bridge, I would like to nominate him today for his total commitment to his family.
He spends his life gardening and growing a wonderful vegetable garden that services this entire family. He and his wife, Barbara, have grandchildren at their home before and after school every day. He teaches one grandson the violin before school, takes another grandchild to a childcare centre every day, looks after sick grandchildren so their parents can go to work.
At present, Peter and Barbara have a daughter and son-in-law and four teenage children living with them to help them out at a difficult time. A home makeover is just what they need. I know he would drop everything to help if our family is in need - a truly fabulous, kind and selfless person. - Ainsley Murray
One very special person who I think has been contributing heaps of good work to the community is Wayne Paulger, a retired lad from Mt Wellington.
Twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday, Wayne picks up donated goods from Pak'n Save and stocks it up on the Mt Wellington Foodbank shelves, roughly taking 2 hours each day. He uses his car and his money for petrol. 
Wayne has been transporting the goods for over three years now. He's always around to help old people, do chores that they can't do, like putting in light bulb, setting up garden kitsets, or transporting them if need be. I can say this because my mother-in-law has been helped by Wayne in so many ways. And he doesn't expect any monetary consideration when he helps people. - Olivia Samy

I nominate Malcolm Law, of Westmere, as a Good Guy. He's currently raising money for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation. Not just a little money, but a lot. His target is $250,000 over two years. He's up to about $170,000! Mal was inspired by the childhood death of his brother from leukaemia. He is raising money for the foundation as a way of helping as many people as possible affected by the diseases.
Mal is fundraising by putting himself through the enormous physical challenge of running seven great walks in seven days. The total distance in that one week will be 360km. Mal states this is nothing compared to what victims go through every day. - Simon Clendon
We would like to nominate Glenn Stewart for his work in the community with youth. His occupation is fleet manager in the Auckland Police Garage and he has a history of community service as he used to be a coastguard.
Glenn really cares about the development of young people and when he is not under the bonnet of a car, he is a Spirit of Adventure watch leader, taking young people on two 10-day sea voyages a year.
The young people involved include exchange students and at-risk kids. Glenn is a willing volunteer with the local Blue Light discos, putting on discos and ice skating in the Auckland City Western area.
Glenn is always obliging, down to earth and happy to lend a hand and have a laugh. He is a true Kiwi bloke.
He never asks for anything in return ... except some blueberry muffins! - Shanta Millikin, Julie O'Connor & Miriam Kauhiva
Here's how to nominate
The Aucklander has teamed with The Good Guys to find the ultimate local person making a difference in his or her community. Three stores - Wairau Park, Botany Downs and Manukau - will be involved in the search for their Ultimate Local Good Guy.
The Good Guys are involved in their local community; the store owners all live and work in the area and know what a difference good guys can make. They want to hear stories of good guys and girls and meet people who give back to their communities for the love of helping others. It is a chance to acknowledge, reward and thank them for what they have done for their area and celebrate these stories.
We're calling for nominations from three areas of Auckland: North, City/West and South. 
Nominations can be made by emailing: goodguys@theaucklander.co.nz or drop a letter into any of The Goods Guys stores across Auckland. Nominations close at noon on Monday, December 6.