It was a pleasure to welcome Meryl Monk, Jackie Charkow and Lynne Green to our meeting on Tuesday evening, it was also a real pleasure to welcome Gavin’s sister Dawn Osborne who is visiting from Spain.
Our guest speaker for the meeting was Sarb Lester from Littlemore. As a club we have a very positive relationship with Littlemore through our Blankets 4 Kids 4 Winter project, and we look to continue that with the project coming up in May.
Apparently the concept of Littlemore started some 12 -15 years ago when a mum was going home and she overheard a nurse say that a little new born was going home in a hospital gown because there was nothing else .She took it from there and Littlemore was born.
The vision is to ensure every baby in Auckland has everything they need to keep them safe and warm.
The focus is on the first critical year of a baby’s life. Littlemore is one of the few, if not the only organisation that focusses on new born babies, others tend spread wider across the age range.
Too many of the babies needing support are the result of break downs in families, family violence, social isolation and so on. Littlemore can intervene quickly usually within a day or two, although Covid did present many challenges.
The organisation relies heavily on donations, there is no Government funding.
Some of the circumstance’s families live in we just could not even begin to imagine, Sarb related the story of a family sharing a toothbrush. Such a simple and seemingly inexpensive item out of reach for some families. In so many cases books are non-existent, babies grow up never having held a book or been read to.
Some $2,379, 367 .00 worth of donated goods were redistributed back into the community but sadly it is the tip of the iceberg, so much more is needed. Volunteers are the heartbeat of Littlemore, there are 100 volunteers who give of their time and energy but many more are needed.
For more information visit the website www.littlemore.co.nz
In her vote of thanks Carole Ansley confirmed our support again this year.
A note of interest, as a 1-minute speaker Ian Fox noted that H&P Times had picked up our Fun Walk Run post on Facebook and got 10,000 hits. That is pretty amazing exposure for the club , Sarb also noted that Littlemore started on Facebook !! The power of social media.
Thanks to everyone who were out on Sunday to help with The Fun/Walk/Run. Again, a hugely successful event. Well done to Colin and his team who do the organising, but at the end of the day it is a club effort so well done everyone.
A small group from the club will be supporting the RSA on Poppy Day selling Poppies on Friday 21st April.
Upcoming meetings are committee meetings in that first week of April, 11th April we have John Duffy with the Board meeting on 18th April and no meeting on 25th as it is ANZAC Day and a Public Holiday.
Enjoy the upcoming Easter break, not too much chocolate !! and if you are going away do take care.
Kia Tupato,Kia noho haumaru
Take care, Stay safe.
Madeleine East MNZM.
President.
