Reti Ah-Voa is the Regional Leader of the Northern Baptist Association.
The Rānui Baptist Community Care team has this week been redeployed to Napier to help the Civil Defence efforts following Cyclone Gabrielle. Elesha Thomas (Manager) and Leao Tildsley (Coordinator) with a few others from their team arrived in Hawke’s Bay on Sunday 19 February.
On Monday they set up a Community Response Centre out of Bay Baptist Church (81 Gloucester Street, Napier) and then in the afternoon were setting up the Civil Defence Army distribution Centre at the Tomoana Showgrounds. These are big operations.
Volunteer help needed
There is an immediate need for big diggers and experienced operators willing to donate their time, as well as folk experienced in logistics, and people experienced in managing/leading teams. To offer your time as a volunteer please email [email protected] If you know of someone who could help, please forward this on to them.
Donated goods needed
Goods are being transported to the Hawke’s Bay from Auckland by truck, the next one leaves Rānui tomorrow (Friday 24 February).
The items MOST IN NEED are:
Gumboots, spades, PPE gear, large pots, bags for people to pack stuff in, like fabric shopping bags or backpacks or large nylon zip up bags, farming goods: fence posts, waratahs, battery electric fence units, wire tape, pig tails, radios for on farm comms (walkie talkies), generators, culverts, big diggers and animal health products.
Financial gifts
We are still encouraging gifts of money as this allows the Care teams to respond to the changing local needs, and to meet the costs of freighting supplies to Napier with restricted road access.
If you would like to give money to the relief efforts in the cyclone damaged Hawke’s Bay here are two Baptist options managing fundraising:
Rānui Baptist Community Care
12- 3039–0195267-04
email [email protected]
Lower North Island Baptist Association
03-0502-0169949-000
email [email protected].
Please reference payments “Cyclone relief”, and if you would like a donation receipt email your reference details to the corresponding address above.
Pray
Please be in prayer for the Rānui Baptist Community Care team and the wider Hawke’s Bay community.
Pray for unity between those coming to help with the relief effort and those in the community.
Pray for energy and patience and grace – there are many weary people who are exhausted.
Pray for hope to be held despite the devastation many have experienced.
Pray for volunteers to respond to the call.
Photo supplied: Rānui Baptist Community Care
