Kindling spirits help raise homeless cash

Wednesday, 4 July 2018

Tiny Deane and Four Square owner and operator Clare Gallagher with some of the blankets that will be used at Rotorua's homeless night shelter.

Staff and customers at a Four Square have raised more than $1000 to buy blankets for Rotorua's homeless night shelter.

The Edmund Rd store raised the cash through sales of kindling and firewood, donating $2 for every sale - with owner and operator Clare Gallagher matching each dollar raised.

More than $1000 was raised in total, enough to purchase 45 good quality blankets.

Visions founder Tiny Deane, who since establishing the trust has been working with homeless in Rotorua, Taupō and Tokoroa, said they couldn't do the work they do without backing from people like Gallagher.

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'[They are] one of our biggest and first supporters,' he said.

Deane, who feeds more than 100 Rotorua homeless every day at his drop in centre, said the night shelter which he opened at the start of June may have saved it's first life too.

He said that on Sunday night, one of the homeless that use the shelter suffered an overdose he believed was linked to synthetic cannabis.

'If he wasn't with us he would have been outside and he'd be dead now,' he said.

'This could be a life we saved.'

Deane said they called paramedics who took the man to hospital and that he has since been discharged.

'It's crazy, we're dealing with all the drugs, synthetics, alcohol, some really bad abuse.'

Deane said the near miss, and his growing experience with homeless people, has strengthened his belief in the need for wrap around services to deal with the whole range of issues rough sleepers face.

He said it can work too, as he's already helped one person into a job.

'This has been a success, but it's hard work,' he said.

Gallagher said she was prompted to help Deane due to her growing concerns about poverty and homelessness in New Zealand.

'We've got to be part of the community,' she said.

'The support has been amazing. Everyone has the right to a full tummy. This is not right in New Zealand, people shouldn't be struggling.'

More information on Visions, and how to contribute, can be found online at https://givealittle.co.nz/org/visionsofahelpinghand