Communication donation

A UNIQUE charity drive is about to get under way for Women's Refuge and just about everybody will be able to help.
It's probably safe to assume that a large number of people nowadays are on at least their second or third mobile phone and it's equally safe to assume that a few people may still have an old mobile or two taking up space in their home.
With this in mind, Orb Communications, a retailer for Telecom products has come up with a unique way of taking those old mobiles off your hands in a way that helps out those people in need of support.
Orb has been running a nationwide appeal asking people to donate their old mobile phones to Women's Refuge via Orb stores, the idea being that the phones will be a good safety measure for women who may need to call the police in an emergency.
"We have found that women who have sought out help relating to a matter of family violence often need a telephone which their abuser does not know the number of, so that they can stop receiving abusive phone calls and texts," said Diane Boon, a spokesperson for Women's Refuge in Taranaki.
Although Orb's idea has received a great deal of support, many people in the Stratford district have not been able to take advantage of the service because there is not an Orb store nearby.
With this in mind, both Toko and Stratford Lions Clubs have got behind the appeal to increase local involvement in it. "The first thing we're doing is sending out around 1380 flyers to all the rural delivery customers telling them about the appeal," said Toko Lion, Basil Dodunski, "and then if rural people call us, we'll collect the phones from them ourselves."
"In town, we'll be knocking on all the business doors in town, letting them know about it," said Stratford Lion, David Taylor, "and if people want to, they can drop off their phones at the Northern Dairy or Stratford Paper Plus."
According to both David and Basil, having the two Lions Clubs working together on the project was seen as a great way to help out the cause and meet the needs of each community that the two clubs serve.
"Our president, Christine Hughes, was really thrilled to be involved in the coordination of this great project," said Basil.
Taranaki Women's Refuge Manager, Janice Jessiman is very pleased that the Lions have chosen to help out the appeal in the Stratford district.
"It's such a simple idea, but it provides such an invaluable emergency service for those in need and