“Covid has definitely taken a toll on families who are already struggling to make ends meet as many of them are now faced with redundancy, reduced hours or income. “We know of families who overnight found themselves in a situation where they had to ask for help, something they’d never done before.”
Kirk Hargreaves/Stuff
Going back to school costs between $500 and $1000 per child, which is often beyond the reach of low-income families, Variety CEO Susan Glasgow says. (File photo) Kiwi Kid Sponsorship, Variety’s flagship programme, matches children aged 4 to 17 with a sponsor who provides funding for basic needs such as school uniforms, shoes, warm bedding, and opportunities such as sports or extra-curricular activities.
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George Stewart enjoying his lunch. Alongside the lunch and desert, those who came down to the Linwood Rugby Club were treated to live music and presents from Santa. George Stewart, an entertainer now in his 80s, was very impressed. “I d been invited to a friend’s place, but I thought I’d like to hear some music,” he said.
CHRIS SKELTON/Stuff
The Dyer family with takeaway food and their presents. “I know a lot of people here and it’s lovely to meet [and see] them.” Mary-Anne Dyer, a hospitality worker, said she moved to Christchurch six months ago and had no family in Christchurch.
Hundreds of people gathered at four Auckland locations for a Christmas lunch sponsored by City Mission today.
Aucklander Karl Sylva with his 5-year-old god daughter Xea enjoy City Mission s Christmas lunch at Freemans Bay, Auckland.
Photo: RNZ / Liu Chen
City Missioner Chris Farrelly said they decided not to do one big lunch - which last year was attended by 2000 people - out of Covid-19 concerns.
Eight hundred people were expected this year at Freemans Bay Community Centre, Nando s on Queen Street and Manukau, and the mission building, according to Farrelly. We have smaller lunches, quite intimate, quite connecting, and I think in this is a lot of beauty. Also, we ve also provided 9000 families over the last week with a full Christmas lunch so that they can do that at home - chicken, vegetables and desserts etc, he said.
Christchurch City Mission has been inundated by people the week before Christmas, causing traffic issues.
EDITORIAL: If you’re looking for a symbol of how much more stressful Christmas is for some families in 2020 than in previous years, look no further than the current traffic jams in Christchurch. Busy traffic and queues near the Christchurch City Mission s Hereford St headquarters forced the city council to make the street one-way until Christmas Eve. Traffic chaos was caused by high demand for the mission’s emergency food parcels.
Joseph Johnson/Stuff
Christchurch City Mission has seen dramatically increased demand at Christmas in 2020.