Goodie bags a ‘moment of joy’ in trying times

Gisborne Rotarians (from left) Bill Harding, Lyn Davis, David Hyland, Julian Avisenis, Ashley Nuttall and Don Cook with some of the goodie bags gathered for delivery. Picture by Paul Rickard

Little bags of sunshine were packed by members of the Rotary Club of Gisborne for Tairāwhiti people affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

About a dozen Rotarians and friends gathered at a suburban garage and filled 101 supermarket bags with goodies aimed at bringing a smile to the faces of those receiving them.

Rotarians from across New Zealand and Australia gave money to help people recover from the effects of the cyclone.

This money went to Rotary clubs in Northland, Coromandel, Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti to use in ways that would support recovery.

Local Rotary club members knew that many in the community, particularly on the East Coast and in rural areas, were under ongoing stress . . . and not only from Cyclone Gabrielle. Other significant weather events in the past year already had people reeling.

Whether displaced from their homes, coping with silt, losing income, dealing with insurance, waiting for key decisions or travelling broken roads, many people could do with a boost, Rotarians felt.

A letter included in the goodie bags said club members had put them together to let the recipients know they were being kept in mind, and in the hope that they got “at least a moment of joy” from the contents.

Pak’nSave made up the order of goods bought by the club, and donated the zipped supermarket bags.

The East Coast Rural Support Trust delivered the bags of goodies to a selection of those who could benefit from a pleasant surprise in trying times.