’Pay it forward’ group helps Christchurch parents with school and household expenses

Monday, 7 February 2022

Charnae Pyke has set up a FB group to help struggling parents get what they need for their kids for school. She has helped over 400 families in two weeks.

With three children at school and a fourth at home, Christchurch mum Charnae Pyke knows how school costs can result in cuts to the food budget.

The 31-year-old Sockburn sole parent has struggled to buy uniforms and stationery in the past, on top of her normal household expenses.

There just isn’t that much fat in the system.

Living that reality encouraged Pyke to start up a Facebook group “Heading Back to School – Pass It Forward Christchurch”.

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The page lists free uniforms, shoes and school items including stationery and allows donors to sponsor a child.

Pyke says people have their own stories, journeys and reasons behind needing help and the group offered a judgement-free platform to offer support.

Now she has been swamped by 1800 members in three weeks, and has already helped 400 families who cannot financially afford the expense of going back to school.

Pyke said the number of people seeking help showed there was a “huge need” for help in Christchurch especially as the cost of living continued to rise.

In the 12 months to December 2021, Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation surged to 5.9 per cent, compared with 4.9 per cent in September, 3.3 per cent in June, and just 1.5 per cent in March.

In just three weeks, some 1800 people have joined the Facebook group.

With inflation at a three-decade high, many like Pyke had nothing left in the kitty week to week by the time they paid rent, power and food.

Finding another $150-200 per child to buy uniforms and stationery just wasn’t an equation many parents could meet, she said. “That alone will mean missing a bill payment or less food.”

Pyke used the example of a parent who contacted her because she couldn’t afford a $22 pair of school shoes for her child.

She arranged for the shoes and a stationery pack to be donated – leaving the parent in tears and overwhelmed at the kindness of others.

“So many people have been willing to jump in and help.”

Spurred on by the level of need, Pyke was helping to set up a charitable trust to help children participate in extracurricular activities like school camps.

Christchurch sole parent Mischa* told Stuff tight finances meant she was having to use a food bank to feed her family.

With two children at school, she has grappled with paying for education costs on top of her normal overheads.

Not extravagant, she says it’s impossible to get ahead and save money for extra unexpected expenses, let alone uniforms or shoes.

To try and stay on top of school costs, Mischa pays $5 a week to each of her boy’s schools. However, that doesn’t cover all costs.

Skipping the fresh fruit, vegetable and meat sections in the supermarket was all too often a reality, as they were too costly.

Instead, Mischa would buy frozen vegetables and cheaper processed meat which meant her boys weren’t getting as healthy a diet as she wanted them to have.

“Diet also effects mental wellbeing. Processed meat isn’t good for their bodies.”

She described Pyke’s page as a “wonderful initiative” and although she had to buy school clothing this year, she has donated old uniforms to the group in the spirit of paying it forward.

“It’s tough times at the moment.”

*Not her real name