Co-ordinator Ellie Godwin said community was important at every stage of what they do.
“We wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the backing of the community.
“We receive donations of second-hand quality baby clothes that people could sell, but instead they choose to bring them here.
“Our numbers have quadrupled over the last year. We were servicing approximately 40 people per month a year ago, and now we provide clothing to over 200 people.
“They say it takes a village to raise a family, but for some people it may not exist in the traditional sense, so we’ve become like our own village, where we welcome people to just drop in.”
Taupō's Blue Light Ventures also received funding of $5000 from Geyser Community Trust.
The donation helped to deliver their life skills program to disadvantaged and at-risk young people.
The Life Skills programme was a week-long residential camp, run in partnership with the NZ Defence Force’s youth development unit.
Its goal was to build self-esteem, personal confidence and resilience and the key skills of problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, decision-making, teamwork and coping with stress and emotions.
The Family and Financial Solutions Trust received a gift of $2385 this year and $2169 last year, which covered three months’ rent for their premises on Motutaiko Street.
The trust provides a range of free services, including family facilitation and dispute resolution, financial mentoring and life coaching.
Geyser executive officer Annette Burgess said the foundation was by the community, for the community.
“All funding applications are assessed by Geyser’s Distribution Advisery Committee, a group of six volunteers representing the Taupō and Rotorua communities, who give their own time and expertise in considering the applications.”
