Kind strangers makeover solo mum's garden

Good Neighbour Trust volunteers giving (right) Jade Riley's garden a makeover with help from her son, Zandon Campbell, 10, in the wheelbarrow. Photo/Andrew Warner

A Mount Maunganui solo mother of two special needs kids cried tears of gratitude after having her garden done up for free by strangers.

A group of volunteers from Good Neighbour Trust visited Jade Riley's home on Saturday to help her make the large section more low-maintenance.

She said a couple of her girlfriends also came to help, and the group of 10 achieved a lot in a day - with help from the kids.

They put down river stones donated by Daltons in her garden beds, water-blasted the slippery deck, cleaned out the garden shed, weeded, took a load to the tip, cleaned outdoor furniture, chopped firewood and helped take apart the kid's pool and clean it, Ms Riley said.

They also took an old bath she had and made a vegetable garden where she can teach her kids about growing their own food.

Ms Riley said she was "incredibly appreciative" of the volunteers' efficient and professional work.

"I was in tears when they left, I was just so happy to have it done."

Ms Riley is a solo parent of two children, aged 10 and 11, who have special needs.

Her son has autism and her daughter has a facial vascular haemangioma tumour which grows on and under her skin.

The mark is associated with Phace syndrome and has affected the little girl's sight and co-ordination, as well as causing headaches and painful pressure on her shoulders.

Ms Riley said caring for her two children was her first priority, but she also liked to volunteer and help in her community. She was planning to become a Good Neighbour Trust volunteer after seeing the great work they did.

"It's about paying it forward," she said.

In another stroke of luck, Ms Riley also recently won a radio competition for Dyls and Dylz, from last season's The Block NZ to do some renovations on her house.

Dylan Cossey and Dylan Guitink will be at her place on Tuesday.

She planned to put the boys to work turning her garage into a rumpus room, replacing the garage door with a ranch slider so the kids could get in and out easier.

"The kids are beside themselves," she said. "They think it is so exciting. I honestly never win anything."