Community help during West Coast Flooding
On 17 July 2021, Westport and Marlborough suffered significant weather conditions resulting in many homes having to be evacuated due to flooding. Several caregivers’ homes, cars and possessions had been damaged, most having to move to emergency accommodation with the children/tamariki in their care. Denise Green, Caring Families Aotearoa Upper South Regional Coordinator and her husband wanted to help those in need, so started contacting those in the community to see what they could do.
Denise thought the most practical thing to request was dry firewood as many caregivers in the region did not have access to any. What she thought would be a single truckload of firewood, turned into an operation on a much larger scale, with 6x 20ft containers being delivered to caregivers and the wider community.
Thank you to the following generous businesses for making this happen!
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- Eurocell wood products Nelson: Donated four containers of kiln-dried firewood.
- PJH earthworks: Transported the firewood to caregivers.
- TNL Nelson and Westport: Transported and unloaded four containers of wood from Nelson to Westport, not once, but twice!
- Richmond Wood and Coal: Donated a large truckload of firewood.
- Pearsons Contractors Westport: Made room in their yard, filled multitudes of trailers, and even delivered some, even though they themselves were affected by the flood and have their business to keep going as well.
- Andrew from Ray White Real Estate was instrumental in liaising and getting access to transport options.
