Christmas preparations at St Columba last year were something to behold!
The goal was to distribute 80 gift bags to members of the local community who weren't expecting to receive much (if anything) for Christmas. All this amidst the constraints of Covid restrictions in mid-December.
The end result, due to the combined efforts and wonderful generosity of many people in the local community, was a staggering 120 gift parcels. These brimmed with items for personal care, plus chocolates, non-perishable food, Covid masks, a supermarket voucher, Christmas card and aroha.
For a morning, the hall was crowded with tinselled bags, and humming with the activity of sorting items and filling them. Revd Brent Swann spent the rest of the day organising the distanced and masked collection and delivery of all the bags, and observed that the most appreciated part of the gift was the aroha of the local community behind it.
St Columba would like to express huge gratitude to everyone who helped achieve this wonderful gifting: those who donated generously to enable purchases; the shoppers; Jill, who sourced special products in bulk, and the companies who responded gladly (including Ethique and Eco); Fono, for supermarket vouchers; and the principal of Grey Lynn Primary School, Alicia Whata, and her amazing pupils (and their families) who not only donated countless food items but showed the size of their hearts by writing cards, and sending recipes and decorated bags.
In mid-January, Revd Brent resumed the packing and distribution of Friday food bags. St Columba's Friday lunch team eagerly awaits the fading of Covid so they can begin safely providing the usual weekly two-course meal that, for now, is still not possible.
(L-R) Liz Caughey, Huia Swann, Revd Brent Swann.
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Published 4 March 2022