Last surge needed to hit target

Kiri and Kevin Swannell track the fundraising total on the Givealittle page for the Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal. Photo / Duncan Brown

The countdown is on - donors have until midnight tomorrow to push Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal across the line.

A Givealittle page expires on the last day of the month - and $9384 must be raised before then if current pledges are to count.

Kiri and Kevin Swannell's goal to raise $65,000 is so close, but they need every last bit of support they can get to reach the last hurdle.

They already had many generous donations and wanted to say a special thank you to 9-year-old Lana Chrystall, who encouraged locals to join her in a One Week Self Sacrifice Challenge.

The aim was to give up any unnecessary items for seven days and give the money they would have spent to Limitless Hope's Emergency Shelter Appeal, spearheaded by Hawke's Bay Today.

"There's been about a dozen people thanking her on Givealittle for setting the challenge. I think that it's really, really great that she's had that snowball effect - one person put in $109, " Mrs Swannell said.

Hawke's Bay's first emergency shelter will be a safe haven for families in desperate need of accommodation, acting as a stepping stone to get the help they may need.

After reaching the Givealittle goal, the Swannells will continue to fundraise and turn their focus to finding a block of suitable land where they might place a two-storey house donated by Property Brokers.

"Fundraising for that will be ongoing, because really we have no idea how much more we are going to need."

An exhibition of artwork by Franki James, which aimed to raise funds for the cause, closed on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, none of the paintings sold but Ms James still came to the fore, offering a further $200 donation.

She had made a contribution of the same amount following a Trade Me sale of her topical creation titled Amalgamation - the stuff of knight mayors!

Her recent display showed mixed-media pieces with a social commentary theme, including the Ruataniwha Dam Project, 2015 Horse of the Year Show and Hawke's Bay Opera House.

How to donate

To help, phone Mrs Swannell on 027 3019 491

Make a pledge at givealittle.co.nz/project/limitlesshope

Donate directly to HB Limitless Hope Trustee Ltd: 38 9017 0031 584 0