Giving back to the community

This holiday season Ideas Shop is continuing our tradition of giving back to the communities in which we live, work and play by making donations to our favourite charities.  

Anna Kominik chose Inspiring Communities

Social sustainability is crucial to our future and our environmental sustainability aims. Inspiring Communities recognises this and has established an exciting new nationwide initiative, called the Exchange, where communities can connect, learn from each other, and build knowledge based on experience. It is a first for New Zealand and is already connecting communities from Tamaki to Taita, New Plymouth to Stewart Island.

Dan Ormond chose Surgical Research Trust

I have been involved in working with the Surgical Research Trust initially as a volunteer and more recently as a Trustee for over six years.  Working with practising surgeons in Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton the Trust relies on donations and sponsorship to fund a wide range of research projects and summer studentships for medical students every year.

Mark Russell chose Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation (Children’s Hospital)

As New Zealanders we often fail to appreciate what a world-class health service we have – until we’re unexpectedly thrust into its midst. I’ve chosen this charity in the wake of the wonderfully friendly and professional service our family received from everyone at Wellington Hospital when our 12-year-old son underwent an emergency operation to remove his appendix.

Amanda Woodbridge chose Titiro Whakamua – Looking Forward

Titiro Whakamua – Looking Forward is a school for teenage mums based at Heretaunga College, the secondary school I attended. They give young mothers who left school early a second chance to complete their education. By supporting young mums, it’s also paving a brighter future for their children.

Rachel Moore chose EnviroSchools Foundation

I’ve long been a fan of the work that EnviroSchools Foundation does in New Zealand’s schools.  Great things come from knowing more about how our environment works, and I particularly like the way EnviroSchools programmes are tailored to suit each locality and the needs within it.

Sam Halstead chose Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand

As a volunteer, I have seen first-hand the impact that Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand has on the lives of hundreds of refugees settling in New Zealand every year.  In moving to New Zealand, refugees face immense challenges and Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand aims to ensure the re-settlement is a positive one.  From addressing their accommodation, health and education requirements to facilitating employment opportunities, Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand makes an invaluable contribution to the refugees’ experience in New Zealand.

Tomas Kriha chose Wellington Hospitals and Health Foundation (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

My first daughter spent her first few days in Wellington Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Thankfully she’s now a healthy five year old and shows no sign of her difficult start in life. But our family hasn’t forgotten the hard work and professionalism of the NICU’s staff and the efforts of volunteers that keeps NICU running 24/7/365 on limited resources. We still have the volunteer-knitted booties issued to NICU admissions as a keepsake. 

NICU has a long list of equipment and materials they need but don’t have funding for; I’d encourage anyone considering a donation to contact the Wellington Hospitals and Health Foundation (the official fundraiser for the hospitals and health services within the Capital & Coast Health District) to ask about their current needs and to make a donation.

Jillian Keogh chose cbm

Having seen the inspirational work cbm performs throughout the developing countries every day, I immediately wanted to be able to make a donation. Reading and watching the videos of cbm doctors restoring sight and mobility to people made me realise how much of my own functions I take for granted.

To know I will be helping someone potentially see their loved ones for the first time or take their very first steps,  makes me wish I could only give more.  I hope to support cbm for many more years to come.

Catherine Wilson chose Women’s Refuge (Wellington)

Christmas should be a time for celebrating with families. But unfortunately for women living with domestic violence, Christmas can be an even more difficult time of year. The Women’s Refuge supports women by providing someone to talk to and a safe place to go in situations of need. By supporting women to leave violent relationships it’s also helping children from those families to start a safer, better life.

Juliet chose Sisters of Compassion

Coming from a big extended family there’s never a shortage of food and fun through the festive season. By providing meals, accommodation and social services the Sisters of Compassion and their co-workers and volunteers support underprivileged people who at this time of year might otherwise find themselves alone and on the periphery. Throughout the year the Sisters are also involved in social work, prison chaplaincies, education and care of the young, elderly and disabled.

Dan Walraven chose the Police Dog Charitable Trust

I have chosen to give to the Trust because I feel their work is incredibly beneficial to the 110 or so members of the Dog Section in the New Zealand Police. The Dog Section plays a vital role in every day New Zealand policing. Even more so in extraordinary events like the Canterbury earthquakes where the Dog Section was invaluable to the search and rescue effort.   

The NZ Police Dog Charitable Trust provides funds for the acquisition, training, bloodline improvement and general management of the dogs and their handlers in the Dog Section.

Patricia Thompson chose Karori Sanctuary Trust

I’ve chosen Karori Sanctuary Trust because I see daily evidence of its fantastic work at the Zealandia attraction spreading far beyond the perimeter fence. During the years I have lived in the sanctuary’s ‘flight path’ birdlife has expanded significantly. Flocks of a dozen kaka regularly swoop over. The tui population has exploded and for the first time we’re seeing fat kereru lumbering overhead.

We often walk our dogs along the outside of the sanctuary fence, in the early morning or at dusk to a cacophony of birdsong, from moreporks to the shrill whistles of kiwi. We routinely see New Zealand falcon and magnificent orange-splashed saddlebacks (fortunately not too close together).

Best of all, we’ve seen kiwi and, on one occasion, a takahe, peering through the fence. Where else could you experience that ten minutes from a major CBD? The sanctuary is a vital conservation resource of national importance – and deserves to be recognised and supported as such.

Alice chose Refugee Services Aotearoa

I have chosen this registered charity after a first-hand experience as a volunteer helping settle a new refugee family in New Zealand. I was awestruck by the immense skill and commitment of the people working in the organisation, tasked with the ongoing challenge of not only organising homes and lives for new refugees, but attracting and training and continuous supply of Kiwi volunteers to help settle them.

Ultimately, the work Refugee Services does enriches they lives of not only the refugees and the volunteers but our whole country and they need ongoing funding support to ensure New Zealand can continue its proud role as a nation committed to international humanity.