Helping out Christchurch

UPDATED: There are many fundraising events organised in the Bay to help the people of Christchurch. If you know of any initiatives, please email us.
Donations can be made through:
Red Cross: www.redcross.org.nz/donate
Salvation Army: 0800 53 00 00 (Specify that your donation is for the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal)
Any ANZ Bank branch: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00
Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
Any Westpac Bank branch: Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808-00
Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000
Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00
The following businesses and organisations are helping to get Christchurch back on its feet after the earthquake:
* Simon Bridges is taking part in The Backbencher Christchurch Appeal Debate at the Backbencher Pub in Wellington tomorrow. It is run by the Press Gallery and the debate moot is 'Politics is a grubby business'. Mr Bridges will be arguing the affirmative. Also on his team are Labour MPs Darren Hughes and Annette King. On the other side are Pinky Agnew, Guyon Espiner, and David Townsend. 3 News political editor Duncan Garner is chairing the debate. All funds raised will go to Christchurch.
* Two local graffiti artists, Garreth Steiner (SAKT) and Galvin (SMUGS) want to create original graffiti aerosol art pieces that will be auctioned, with all proceeds going to help those in Christchurch. Diffuse Screenprinting in Aviation Drive are supporting the artist but the men also need donations of paint, thinners and large canvases to help them get started. Tauranga City Council's graffiti prevention officer Jane Denton says the idea puts a positive spin on graffiti and is willing to be the point of contact for people wishing to donate materials. Contact her on 577-7000. It is hoped the artwork will be exhibited during the 10 Days in Tauranga event.
* The Te Puna Quarry Summer Trust has organised an outdoor screening of award-winning New Zealand documentary This Way of Life. The film will be showcased on March 26 in the first public screening of a movie at the quarry. The screening will run from 6pm-8pm. Tickets are $10 with all proceeds going to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. Organisers need at least 500 people to make it work. RSVP at www.performatthequarry.org.nz and on Facebook: Te Pune Quarry Summer Trust.
* During the Papamoa Lions most recent bi-monthly market at Papamoa Plaza on February 27, Papamoa Lions went around the crowd with a bucket and collected $514 for the Christchurch earthquake relief fund. This was augmented by the profits from that day's market (stall rental and sales of food from their caravan) and a total of $2000 was donated. The club's publicity officer, Adam McLaughlin, said LCIF (Lions Club's International Fund) had made a substantial $110,000 donation to the appeal.
* Bay Salsa is hosting a Latin Dance Party Fundraiser for Christchurch on Saturday. From 8pm-1am at Baycourt Exhibition Hall. Theme: Red and Black. Minimum donation $10. All welcome. Phone 021 045 4235 or visit the website www.baysalsa.co.nz.
* Last Friday, the Provida Foods team did their bit to raise funds for the victims of the Canterbury earthquakes by donning red and black for the day. Provida Foods kicked off the fundraising effort with $1000 and agreed to match dollar for dollar all donations made by staff. The Bay of Plenty, Hamilton and the new Auckland branches all participated with the grand total amount raised reaching more than $5000. This will be donated to the Red Cross earthquake appeal.
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* The Matua Bowling Club is organising a bowls tournament on Sunday, March 27 to raise funds for the St John earthquake appeal in association with the ASB bank. All bowlers are invited to take part in teams of four at $40 per team, which includes lunch. A number of celebrities are taking part including Sir Colin Meads, Bob Scott, Peter Henderson and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges. To enter a team or to donate goods for the auction phone Roger on 5700302 or Don on 5768402.
* The Fruit for Community appeal is welcoming any donations of fruit to the Apata Packhouse, 83 Pyes Pa Rd, during work hours. The produce leaves Tauranga on Tuesday and Friday nights, so donations need to be in by 12pm on those days. The produce is now being placed into community food parcels by the Arise Church, with some help from local Green Party members. Last week about 1500 pieces of fruit and avocados were sent down. For information phone Karen 544 3858 or email ksummerhays@xtra.co.nz
* Tauranga-based company BECA continues to support their colleagues in Christchurch. Four structural engineers spent last week in Christchurch and three more are due to go to Christchurch next week. Regional manager John Revington said he expected this to continue for several months.
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 * Erin Olsen and Michelle Mayo of Tauranga accountancy firm KPMG put in a sizzling effort toward Christchurch's earthquake appeal fund, selling about 300 sausages and 250 homemade cupcakes at a Grey St stall. $908 would be given to BP, which has agreed to match amounts raised though fundraising efforts for the earthquake. The stall, organised by the company's social club, was staffed by 25 workers over three shifts. 
* Tauranga real estate agent Sue Parkinson has offered to donate her portion of each property listing fee this month to the Red Cross Appeal. Sue is an agent with Eves Realty, Willow St, central Tauranga.
* The Cottage Cafe in Mount Maunganui donated half of their takings from one day's sales to the Christchurch relief fund.
* From March 7-14, Little India Bistro and Tandoor are donating 6.3 per cent of their national sales to the Christchurch relief fund.
* Zespri will donate $100,000 to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal to support victims of the earthquake. The company is also providing boxes to supermarkets and collection points to assist with the collection of food and other items, and encouraged staff to contribute a donation towards the relief fund.
* Tauranga graffiti artists Garreth Steiner (SAKT) and Galvin (SMUGS) want to fundraise for earthquake workers by auctioning original graffiti aerosol art pieces. In order to create the art, they are asking if any businesses or individuals to donate paint, thinners and large canvases. Diffuse Screenprinting in Aviation Drive has already offered to help.
The artists already have some ideas for the pieces of art, and say the larger the canvas the better. They will create pieces to cover all tastes, as they would like as many people as possible to participate in the auction. The project has the support of Tauranga City Council graffiti prevention officer Jane Denton, who has offered to collect the materials.
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* A Christchurch father has acknowledged the generosity of Mount Maunganui business HEB Construction. Alan Forte's teenage son Alex was due to compete in the 2011 State National Surf Lifesaving Championships in New Brighton this week, but the event was moved to Mount Maunganui after the earthquake. Alex, a national Surf Life Saving gold medallist, needed to get his gear to Mount Maunganui. HEB Construction responded to a
request for help on Radio Live, and brought Alex's gear, including a surfski and surfboard, to Tauranga on the back of a Mac truck.
* A family fundraising event was being held by Bunnings Warehouse at Mount Maunganui to support Christchurch. All proceeds will go directly to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal.
* Western Bay schools having red and black mufti days or other activities to raise funds for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal include: Fairhaven school, Otumoetai College, Aquinas College, Merivale school, Bellevue Primary, Te Kura o Matapihi, Tahatai Coast school, Matahui Rd school, Tauriko school, Papamoa school, Otumoetai Primary, Tauranga Boys' College, Tauranga Girls' College, Pyes Pa school, Waihi Beach school, Kaimai School, Welcome Bay school, Greenpark school, Brookfield school, Gate Pa school, Otumoetai Primary, Arataki school, Tauranga Adventist school, Omokoroa Point school and Matua Primary.
* Relationship Services branches in the Bay of Plenty are releasing staff to help in Christchurch. The service is also offering a free telephone counselling service seven days a week . The phone line is running between 7.30am to 8pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends. People wanting to access help can phone 0800 RELATE 0800 735 283 or phone the earthquake help line 0800 779 997.
 * Blackforest Gourmet Butchery in Tauranga and Papamoa are holding a sausage sizzle from 9am-2pm on Saturday. The sausages will be $3 each with 100 per cent of the takings going to Red Cross.
* Friends Katie Goodwin, 9, and Kyra Tremayne, 7, made bookmarks and keyrings and sold them at Omokoroa Beach on the weekend. The pair raised more than $60 for the Red Cross Christchurch earthquake appeal.
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* Western Bay people are being called upon to donate fresh fruit and produce to line the lunch bags of more than 800 students and volunteers working in the wake of the Christchurch quake. People can drop off their produce (already washed) to Apata Packhouse, 83 Pyes Pa Rd, Pyes Pa, during work hours. Shipments of produce will leave Tauranga on Tuesday and Friday evenings for the next three weeks. Packers are also required. Weatherell Transport is providing free transportation to Christchurch. Phone Karen Summerhays on 544 3858.
* Satara Kiwifruit's staff and growers are opening their homes to Christchurch people wanting a break away from the city. With the harvest and packing season starting in three weeks, the company is offering Christchurch people free accommodation and employment over a two to three-month period with a significant variety of jobs available from packing fruit to forklift driving.
* GP clinics under the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation are offering free consults to Christchurch residents who have relocated or come to the Western Bay as a result of the earthquake. The free offer will be reviewed on March 11.
* Zumba instructors in Tauranga have joined forces to lead a two-hour Zumba class at at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre next weekend to aid those plighted by the Christchurch earthquake. Organisers are hoping for a turnout of more than 200 people at the class, to be held on Sunday, March 13, between 2pm and 4pm, with the cost of admission at $10 for adults and $5 for children. All proceeds will be added to the nationwide Zumba Fundraising drive to be donated to the Red Cross.
* Tauranga walkers are encouraged to wear red and black and join for a 2.5km walk around the city on Tuesday to raise funds for Christchurch Emergency Fund. The Walk 4 Christchurch leaves from The Strand (opposite Masonic Park) at 6pm and will make its way around Devonport Rd, 3rd Ave, Cameron Rd, Elizabeth St, Grey St, Mid City Mall and back to The Strand. Entry will be by donation. Phone (07) 578 7025 or email iris.thomas@xtra.co.nz.
* Virginia Iovine-Turner from Cucina Amore is holding a wine and food evening in conjunction with Pernod Ricard New Zealand. Tickets for the three-course demonstration and sample of food and wines are $25 per person with all money going to Christchurch. It will be held on Wednesday, March 30 at 6.15pm with a venue to be confirmed. Register your interest by emailing virginia@cucinaamore.co.nz
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* A group of police, court and corrections staff have organised a charity run up Mauao to show their support for the quake victims and are calling on sponsors to get in behind them. The court team included Judge Paul Geoghegan. A staff member from Ministry of Justice collections unit collected funds on race day.
* The Tauranga Hearing Association is in need of second hand hearing aids and any hearing aid batteries that are still in date to send to those with hearing impairments in Christchurch. They can be delivered to their office 1342 Cameron Rd, Greerton, on Monday-Thursday between 9am and 2.30pm or posted to the same address.
* Tauranga kids Georgia and Leah Rattray, with their neighbour Matthew Hollins, went door to door selling all the fruit and veges they could find in their parents garden on the weekend. They made $20.90 which would be donated.
* Alzheimers Tauranga is helping its sister Canterbury branch to get back on its feet by donating 10 per cent of the proceeds from its annual fundraising event, Hats, Heels and High Tea, at Mills Reef Winery on Thursday, March 10. Businesses wishing to pledge sponsorship dollars or make donations, as well as people wanting to buy tickets, should either phone (07) 577 6344 or email jane@alzheimers.net.nz
* Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Lunchtime Concert - Fundraising for Christchurch. Music students will put on a lunchtime concert on Wednesday, March 9, 12-1pm on the outdoor stage in front of Pomare. Radio broadcasting students will be collecting donations. All funds will go to NZ Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Fund.
* Pukehina Volunteer Fire Brigade held its annual fishing tournament and this year all the proceeds will go to the Christchurch quake appeal.