Campaign strikes a chord with MP

Kiri and Kevin Swannell serve some warming soup to Napier MP Stuart Nash and his daughter Sophia last night. Photo / Duncan Brown

MPs are often approached for help - but some causes stand out from the rest.

Napier MP Stuart Nash has been watching Kiri and Kevin Swannell from afar for "quite a while now" and he is highly impressed with what he witnessed.

A hardworking family unit who saw a need and filled it without asking for fame, fortune or even recognition.

After witnessing the group in action dishing out hot meals to the homeless on a cold evening in Clive Square last Monday he has pledged $150 toward their Limitless Hope project.

The cause will see Property Brokers former Hastings office transformed into a bright, welcoming space for those in desperate need of a place to sleep for the night.

Kiri and Kevin are forming solid ties with local agencies who will "wrap around" desperate families or individuals before they end up in a dire situation.

Negotiations to find a slice of land to house Hawke's Bay's first ever emergency shelter are under way, but no announcements could be made at this stage.

Hawke's Bay Today launched a Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal campaign to get everything needed to make the move happen - with many generous local businesses and community leaders already showing their support.

Mr Nash was the most recent to offer a donation, which was given in cash so the Swannell's could distribute it wherever it was needed most.

"I think they are astounding, they have been doing this quietly now for quite a while," Mr Nash said. "But they don't shout it from the roof tops."

When launching their latest project they contacted the Napier MP via email asking for support and have since exchanged messages.

He knew of their work but wanted to see it first hand which is exactly what he did last week - taking his 13-year-old daughter along for the life lesson.

"When this project came up they approached us - no one wants to put their name to something that looks a bit suspect - but they are not Johnny come lately's, they have been doing this behind the scenes for a long time."

Napier-based Butler and Hewitt Ltd will give its services in some capacity, building on a substantial list of people and organisations raising funds and offering free time.

Mrs Swannell converted a portable unit in her home, formerly used as a bedroom, into an office to house all incoming details and information.

"We started this at the beginning of 2013 and we have been doing advocacy ever since then, in that time it has been teaching me, I have learnt a lot about the system," she said.