Editorial: Teaming up to tackle our poverty issue

Kevin Swannell serves up soup.

There has been a strong reaction to our new campaign, Fighting Poverty and the issue poverty in our province is now the subject of hot debate.

This was our intention when we teamed up with the Salvation Army to highlight the fact that there are people in Hawke's Bay who are struggling.

Some people simply do not have enough money to make ends meet, while others have got themselves into such debt they are trapped beneath it.

One thing that everyone agrees on is that there are many Hawke's Bay families who are doing it tough. There has been much debate on our Facebook page and website about the issue. Some people acknowledge the hardships, while others believe that some of those struggling only have themselves to blame.

That may be so, but that does not take away from the fact that they are still struggling.

We have already had offers of help for some of the people whose stories we have told and I am expecting more. All offers will be passed on to the people concerned.

We are also hoping the Salvation Army gets donations as well as they do fantastic work in our community.

Of all the stories in the series in the paper and online, the one that has captured everyone's attention is about a family quietly going about the business of feeding the homeless.

The Swannell family spent last winter feeding the homeless in Clive Square, Napier, from their soup truck. A chance encounter with a homeless man led to them embarking on this venture. They did not have anything to gain from it, all they were doing was meeting a need.

The reaction on Hawke's Bay Today's Facebook page yesterday was overwhelmingly positive with many people offering to help.

Now, that's community spirit for you.