Collective effort for whānau who need a little extra help

Terri Hokianga volunteering at The Nest Collective stand at the weekend’s Grey Street Christmas Festival. The Collective is running its Giving Trees baby packs campaign. Donations are welcome. Picture supplied

The Nest Collective is once again running their Giving Trees campaign to help support whānau with babies and tamariki during the Christmas period and into the New Year.

The Nest Collective Gisborne, which was launched in 2021, provides baby packs for families requiring support. The packs feature the essentials for the first year of life — clothing, bedding, books, toys and more.

Branch manager Lucy Benge said Giving Trees was hugely successful last year so they decided to do it again,  starting at the Grey Street Christmas Festival on Sunday.

“Every donation makes a big difference to the whānau we support across Te Tairāwhiti,” Miss Benge says.

Donations most needed at this time include cotton baby towels, muslin swaddles/wraps, books and toys for babies under a year old, and clothing for babies six to 12 months of age.

Miss Benge says they prefer new items for theChristmas pack but “happily accept any second-hand items if they are in good condition”.

Since starting, the charity has supported over 400 whānau through community partners such as Tūranga Health, Plunket, Te Whatu Ora, Ngāti Porou Hauora, Te Runanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa, midwives and other agencies working with whānau and hapū mama.

“This year we have supported around 20 percent of pēpi born in the region and Giving Trees is a great way for our community to show some awhi to those who need a little extra help,” Miss Benge said.

Donations can be dropped off at The Nest Collective at 85 Childers Road between 9.30am and midday on December 14, 15, 18 and 19 or to any of the Nest Collective’s regular drop-off locations — More Than Fabric (106 Ballance Street), The Toy Library (91 Innes Street), STIHL Shop (51 Carnarvon Street) or Plunket (7 Ormond Road) — during their opening hours.