Streets turning orange for Cranford street appeal

Volunteers Rachele Bertoldi, Marion Batchelor, Judy Fletcher and street appeal co-ordinator Amanda Aitken pictured outside Cranford Hospice Shop. Photo / Duncan Brown

An army of orange-clad volunteers will be hitting the streets this weekend to raise money for Cranford Hospice.

Nearly 400 volunteers would be stationed at more than 40 locations across Havelock North, Hastings, Taradale and Napier on April 5, 6 and 7 to collect community donations to help fund the hospice's services.

Hospice marketing and fundraising manager Nathalie van Dort said Cranford Hospice offered its service from Mahia peninsula in the north to Takapau in the south, a catchment area of about 164,000 people.

"To meet our shortfall in funding we ask the community to donate an average of $7700 each day, every day, to be able to offer the specialist palliative care to the people of Hawke's Bay," Ms van Dort said.

"The street appeal is an important part in our fundraising."

In the past financial year, Cranford Hospice offered specialist palliative care to 740 patients and their family/whanau, at no cost.

"The care people can expect from Cranford Hospice includes not only clinical care, it's also equally important emotional and spiritual support," said hospice chief executive Janice Byford-Jones.

"Hospice is a philosophy of care, our aim is to help people make the most of their time left on their final journey, to help them live every moment."

That could include looking after someone in their own home, sitting down with the carers around the patient, offering music therapy or counselling to the people close to the person dying, or caring for them in the facility.

Ms van Dort said it was not until people experienced it themselves that they realised the extent of care and compassion offered.

She added that the volunteer collectors would be easily recognisable this year as they would be wearing bright orange aprons.

In 2017, the street appeal raised more than $20,000.

If people want to help with collecting they can contact volunteer co-ordinator Amanda Aitken phone (06) 878 7047.