Gifts from cities to rural families

Press, 10 February 1989, Page 16

Gifts from cities to rural families

The immediate needs of many rural families had been met by the drought relief package but help was still needed for those that did not qualify for the Government aid, according to the chairman of the Rural Support Committee, Mrs Dorothy Oakley. Families with older, high school-aged children would now be the main target for aid, after younger families were given help at Christmas. The Save the Children Fund had given $11,500 of goods to be distributed among families with young children. Shoe vouchers and new clothing were included in the package. Mrs Oakley said publicity resulting from the S.C.F. gift had prompted many individuals from throughout New Zealand to also send gifts. Two cartons of Christmas cakes were sent from the North Cape, a Rotorua woman held a collection in her street and sent $4OO, and money to buy presents for five families

was sent by a woman in Auckland. Although the gifts came mainly from the North Island, there had been tremendous support from Christchurch, people, and church groups also gave support. A total of 106 cases of fruit were also distributed among families by Mrs Oakley and other volunteers. “It was truly inspiring,” she said. The help for families with older children would

centre on school shoes. Providing shoes for older children was one of the biggest problems for some families. Clothes could be pooled and shared around. “But you can’t do that with shoes. Many wear them out before they grow out of them. I hear of children who have not had shoes on their feet for three months,” she said. Holiday homes were also being offered to farmers but many felt they could not leave their farms. Stock had to be moved every few days amongst the scarce feed resources left by the drought. Some families had begun to book holiday homes for later in the year when there was less work needed on the farm. 'Mrs Oakley said this was encouraging because it showed some families were now starting to plan ahead. Many had stopped making decisions and were merely doing what their finance companies and creditors told them.