Cash boost helps Christmas appeal

Kendell O'Connor, from Hawke's Bay Today with Peterhead school in Flaxmere students Arama Tonihi, and Tyson Hohua, who have helped collect money for the Christmas cheer appeal.

One of the crucial ingredients to the annual Christmas Cheer Appeal is the cash fund.

Because putting together the food items needed to help create the more than 850 parcels does not come without a cost.

While a lot of items are donated, a huge amount needs to be bought.

Just consider a box or two of cereal alone - times 850.

So the cash is critical, and over the past couple of days the fund has received a huge boost from businesses, schools, councils and trusts - to the tune of around $2000.

A superb boost.

The good folk at Conroy Removals in Onekawa have been supporters of the Hawke's Bay Today driven appeal for more than 20 years and this year was no exception as a four-figure endorsement of their community support arrived.

As they did last year, Conroy Removals added $1000 to the fund.

The company has long been a supporter of community funds and events but owner David Conroy has never made a big issue of it - preferring to say it was just something they wanted to do.

That donation was then doubled by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council which put $500 forward, and Gardiner Knobloch with $250 and the Spirit of Napier Lions Charitable Trust which also donated $250.

All are regular supporters of the appeal and embrace the simple Conroy philosophy of doing something for their community at a time of the year when many people needed some festive support.

That approach was also taken up by the pupils at Peterhead School in Flaxmere.

"The kids wanted to do it - they were very enthusiastic about the cause," school spokeswoman Sue Ginty said.

It was one of several causes the school has fundraised for over the years, and the $500 raised from a mufti day staged last week would be split between two causes - one of them the Christmas Cheer Appeal.

The gift pile received a great boost from the ladies of the Hawke's Bay Club and the lads who make up the Men's Shed group.

The club ladies dropped off a large bag of great gifts for all ages while Bob Allan, on behalf of the shed boys, dropped off two beautifully made wooden rocking horses - all part of doing something for the community.

A slight "oops" moment in yesterday's cheer tally.

The $93 donation came from the pupils of Napier Intermediate School, not Taradale Intermediate, as they are still tallying up their coin-trail cash.

So well done, Napier Intermediate, and thanks also for the several boxes of food you put together.

Great stuff, kids.