'We haven't seen the half of it yet': how to back the people helping our community
Friday, 13 November 2020
Kristy Rowe has noticed a big shift over the past few months.
Not only are more people in need, the range of people who need help has widened, said the Helping Families Nelson founder.
“We’re seeing different people than we have seen in the past,” Rowe said.
Previously, many people were just scraping by, she said. “Now, one has lost their job or hours have been cut, and they have found themselves in a harder position.”
**READ MORE:
* Clothing giveaway to cater to Nelson-Tasman's growing need
* Habitat for Humanity finds a suburban home of its own
* Coronavirus: Nelson's Community Foodbank moves into stadium as demand increases fourfold
**
Figures from the June 2020 quarter show that New Zealand’s under-utilisation rate – a measure of the labour market’s spare capacity – rose to 12 per cent. While many workers stayed employed, many were working fewer hours than they had before, resulting in lower household earnings.
Some estimates point to a net loss of 186,000 jobs by next June, and unemployment peaking at 8.8 per cent in March.
Helping Families
Rowe has noticed more single parents turning up to her open days to collect free clothing and household goods: women who have fled bad relationships, moving to Nelson to be closer to families, or dads needing to set up a home. They’re also meeting more people living in emergency housing, and more grandparents raising grandchildren.
Helping Families co-ordinator Mel Harnetty said the support the charity receives from the public is amazing. However, a lot of people don’t realise how great the need is in their community.
“People are ignorant to the fact it’s happening around them; they’re surprised there is such a need in Nelson.
“You can't judge them by the car they drive or the clothes they’re wearing,” she said. “They might have been in a stable situation, but things are hard now.
“It doesn’t have to be a poverty thing, it can just be, cripes, there’s no money to buy clothes.”
What they need
Helping Families welcomes donations of good quality, essential items: clothes, bedding, household items. No stained, holey clothes or knick-knacks, Rowe said.
They also need donations, to fill gaps in stock, things like nappies, toiletries, and underwear.
“We can make $20 go a really long way,” she said. You can donate via Givealittle. And they’d love support from businesses around the region looking to make a difference in the community.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Nelson general manager Nick Clarke said demand at the charity’s op shop, Restore, had been strong, with more foot traffic in Nelson and Motueka than this time last year.
There had been a surge in donations, Clarke said. He put this down to lockdown cleanouts – as well as community largesse.
“We’ve always had good support, it’s a testament to our community.”
However, the real problems will come down the line, as the trickle-down effect of job losses starts to bite, he said.
“[Government] supports have been impressive, but they can't keep supporting indefinitely.”
How you can help
Shop at Restore, or donate your quality items. If you have time to spare, volunteer. And when Habitat moves into its new hub, community organisations, ethical businesses and NGOs can rent a space, or hotdesk. “These organisations can support us to get more people into decent homes,” Clarke said. ]
You can also donate to Habitat for Humanity.
Nelson Community Food Bank
Demand for food parcels has dipped since lockdown, when volunteers worked long hours to address a fourfold spike in need, said trustee Megan Familton.
However, it’s still about 50 per cent higher than the same time last year, and each food parcel is feeding a greater number of people than last year, she said.
During lockdown the community stepped up. “We’ve had some amazing donations in the last wee while.”
However, with the real impact on the economy only starting to appear, they’re bracing themselves for more need, Familton said.
“We haven’t seen half of it yet.”
How you can help
Because they buy the bulk of their food, the most efficient way to help is by donating to Nelson Community Foodbank Trust Inc 03-0703-0504598-00.
If you’d like to throw a couple of items into the supermarket donation bins, take note: “We’ve got Weetbix and porridge coming out of our ears right now,” Familton said. However, they welcome staples like flour, sugar, tea, coffee, small bottles of cooking oil and pasta. Supermarket vouchers are also welcome.
The organisation has changed rapidly over the past few months, and a government funding boost means they can hopefully expand their reach. Soon, they hope to recruit volunteers, she said.
Plunket
Like many organisations, Plunket quickly went online when lockdown interrupted their traditional way of working. But Zoom meetings and phone calls are no substitute for human contact, said Plunket clinical leader Maxine Dunn.
“As soon as play groups were up and running people came back,” she said.
While Plunket doesn’t provide financial assistance, they can refer families to other community organisations for help.
“Nurses know their communities well; they know where to refer families to for support.”
Dunn has noticed a greater need for food and clothing. “Just one example: we had one mum come in for a well child check, and she went away with a food parcel and winter clothes.
“If people haven’t got food or the basics, it’s hard to parent well.”
How you can help
Donate directly to Plunket, knit baby clothing or check out their website for other ways to support the organisation.
Health Action Trust
Located in Nelson’s Nikau Hauora Hub, Health Action Trust provides mental health support services as well as health promotion, under a range of contracts funded by the Ministry of Health and Nelson Marlborough DHB.
Demand is always high for their services, said general manager Mary Ellis. And with wage subsidies petering out, and Christmas on the horizon, she doesn't expect that to change.
Recently, the trust resurrected a course they ran a few years ago, aimed at helping people foster resilience. It was a way to address a growing public anxiety, and places were snapped up, Ellis said.
“It didn’t take long to fill these positions. There’s more anxiety; people are worrying about their jobs and their income.”
How you can help
The trust welcomes donations, which are channelled straight into services, Ellis said.
“Whatever we get in goes back into what we provide. If something happens in the community we can respond quickly.”
”We’ve always had a very strong connection to Nelson-Tasman community. It’s a testament to my staff: they’re passionate about what they do.”
If you’re an agency seeing an increased need in the community, please get in touch by emailing newsdesk@nelsonmail.co.nz.