Nelsonians dig deep for rattled neighbours

Source: The Nelson Mail

Nelson rallied at the weekend to raise thousands of dollars to help our Canterbury neighbours, including about $15,000 at a special appeal at Saturday night’s Opera in the Park.

Red Cross member Bob Askew organised a bucket collection for the earthquake appeal. He said there was “so much money it has not all been counted”, but he estimated the final tally at $15,000.

“The giving was unprecedented at any public event I’ve been involved with. Collectors were blown away by people’s generosity – a lot of people gave $50 and $100 notes,” Mr Askew said.

A variety of businesses, groups and individuals spent the weekend raising money for Christchurch, including ASB’s Nelson branch, which raised more than $4000 from a sausage sizzle on Saturday.

Branch manager Mike Norton thanked people from Nelson and around the country who supported the appeal, bank staff who volunteered to help, and the Nelson businesses that donated meat and goods – Pestells, Westmeat, Brumby’s, the Swiss Bakery and Fresh Choice.

Richmond boutique owner Cheryl Stacey raised $863 from cupcakes she and friends baked and sold on Saturday.

Post Haste driver Andrew Chapman’s appeal for goods resulted in enough items, food and water to fill three-quarters of his van. He delivered them to Christchurch relief centres at the weekend.

People donated a range of items, from curtains to canned goods and supplies of hand sanitiser from Rural Women New Zealand. People also gave children’s toys, blankets and baking.

A representative from Telecom’s Nelson store said the nationwide appeal for old analogue telephones had attracted a huge response in Nelson, with at least 100 phones handed in to the Trafalgar St store.

“We’ve had a few interesting ones from the 1970s, including a cat, which you pick up its back to talk on.

“It’s surprising how many old phones we’ve tested are still in good working order.”

Nelson Market owner Nita Knight said Nelsonians and visitors raised $3235 for the Canterbury Earthquake Emergency Fund at the market’s black and red fundraising stall on Saturday.

Shoppers were able to leave a donation in a collection bucket and buy goods donated by other stallholders, with all money going to the Red Cross.

Volunteer Carleen Reich-Simko said people had been very generous, particularly young people.

“When you tell kids they’re helping another kid in Christchurch, their face lights up,” she said.

Christchurch residents in Nelson staying with family had been very appreciative of the gesture, she said.

Shopper Martin Workman donated money at the stall. He said it was brilliant, and another way of helping out.

“I have got family down there. I’m sure they will be relying on the help from a lot of people,” he said.

Buskers Julian Mosch and Jonas Richter were also at the market, and donated all the money they raised during the morning to the earthquake victims.

Mr Mosch said it was great to be able to contribute.

“We busk every day, but today we play for the earthquake victims. It’s nice to be helping other people.”

Ms Knight was later extremely saddened to hear that the buskers’ car had been broken into on Saturday night and money and possessions stolen.

This Saturday, the market will hold a Purple Sticker Market, where stallholders and shoppers will be invited to wear purple in support of Emily Sanson-Rejouis’ Kenbe La Foundation.

The market would now give half the funds raised on the day to the Canterbury Earthquake Emergency Fund, Ms Knight said.

- Nelson