Warm socks to help needy rural families

Socks help support rural people.

The Aftersocks NZ campaign is an award-winning philanthropic initiative of Rural Women New Zealand, assisting individuals, community groups and organisations in rural areas, following major environmental events.

More than 21,000 pairs of New Zealand-made merino socks have been sold, with proceeds contributing more than $130,000 into communities since 2010.

The recent Kaikoura earthquakes and Edgecumbe flooding heightened the need to continue this support and include adverse events that have since followed - fire, floods and drought, the group says.

RWNZ has just launched a website, www.aftersocks.nz, where people can buy, wear and share support with others.

People can also apply to the Adverse Events Relief Fund for financial support through this website. Grants up to $1000 can be approved for a wide range of needs to those who are affected in the rural sector.

RWNZ national president Fiona Gower is encouraging members to join the campaign on social media.

"Wear and share your support by uploading a photo and tagging the @aftersocksnz Facebook page. "We want to see you wearing your pair of Aftersocks in support of affected rural communities."

The campaign aims to attract support for the fund, to then distribute back into those rural communities most in need.

The Aftersocks NZ campaign promotes New Zealand supporting New Zealand-made, supporting New Zealanders.

"The rural sector is a valuable industry, and what better way to continue to support this than producing a product from merino wool," Ms Gower said.

"RWNZ has teamed up with The New Zealand Sock Company in Ashburton to produce Aftersocks. This relationship now spans six years, with sales manager Jared Moore seeing it as a privilege to work alongside Rural Women New Zealand.

"They are proactive, think outside the square and they are doing great things in the wider community."

RWNZ chief executive officer Penelope England encourages anyone who requires assistance following disruptive environmental events to visit www.aftersocks.nz and apply to the Adverse Events Relief Fund, or call the RWNZ National Office on 0800 256 467 during normal office hours.