With Christmas approaching, Police staff around the country are doing their bit to give people who need it a bit of a festive lift.
With their contacts throughout our communities, police are in the right place to help spread some goodwill among families for who Christmas can be a difficult time.
In Gisborne, for example, Police staff are pleased to be part of Operation Blue Santa – a first for Tairāwhiti.
The Gisborne Whāngaia Ngā Pa Harakeke team, with Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust and Countdown Gisborne, is running the initiative to give the community an opportunity to share food and Christmas treats with struggling families.
Before Christmas, Police and Social Services staff will visit families with a laundry basket full of donated food.
"Operation Blue Santa gives us the opportunity to shine a little light on the fact that there are families dealing with difficult circumstances - and to show this community really cares about one another,” says Constable Tracey Mann, from the Whāngaia team.
"Our Whāngaia Ngā Pa Harakeke team engage with whānau who are experiencing family harm and/or family violence… For these families, Christmas can be a stressful time, and a show of support from the community will hopefully make a big difference for them.”
Filling an Operation Blue Santa basket costs around $85. The contents can be bought and put together by a family, group or business, and left with Countdown Gisborne, or funds can be paid into the Te Aka Ora bank account (02-0636-0061335-00 ref: Blue Santa).
For more information please contact Constable Tracey Mann or Constable Rihara Houia; Laura at Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust or Chris at Countdown Gisborne.
Santa is also wearing blue in Taranaki, where police have run their own Operation Blue Santa with the Roderique Hope Emergency Housing Trust since 2016. Find out more from the trust’s website.
Meanwhile, in Levin, a 2015 idea from Horowhenua Prevention Manager Senior Sergeant Beth Purcell and a likeminded counterpart has grown into a huge community effort.
The Horowhenua Christmas Shoebox initiative came about when Beth and Therase Apatu, from Oranga Tamariki, decided to put some leftover funding from a previous community initiative to good use.
Community service groups were asked to nominate families, who were surprised to receive a shoebox full of gifts – including food, toys, books and clothing.
The initiative has flourished, from 250 recipients in the first year, to 500 in the second, and now 1700.
"I can’t praise the Horowhenua community enough - including the District Council, area schools and local businesses and organisations - for their generosity, time and effort in making sure children thoroughly enjoy their Christmas, as well as alleviating some stress and pressure on their parents,” says Beth.
Last year students from Horowhenua College held a fundraising gala. The Levin Menz Shed group donates beautifully handmade toys. The boxes are donated by a local business, and filled by a volunteer army.
Youth Aid, Community and Safer Whānau Team staff will help with delivery.