Red Cross pays first emergency grants

A Kaiapoi family has received the first emergency grant from the New Zealand Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Commission today (14 September).

The Bryce family’s house on Gray Crescent in Kaiapoi has been assessed by building inspectors and given a red card, indicating it is currently unsafe to live in.

Since the early hours of the disaster, Michael Bryce, who has two children, has been in action as a Civil Defence volunteer, helping other people affected by the 7.1 quake. His family was paid $3,000 this afternoon. A family from Christchurch also received a grant of $3,000 today.

“The Commission is delighted to be able to begin distributing funds so quickly to worthwhile families like the Bryces,” said Michael McEvedy, former Mayor of Selwyn District Council and a member of the newly formed Commission. “These one-off emergency grants are for people who are no longer able to live in their usual homes due to structural damage. They are a first step towards meeting some of the immediate needs of people like the Bryces who have had to leave their homes.”

Grants are paid from the New Zealand Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal. Applications opened yesterday and are made by completing an application form and emailing, posting or delivering it to New Zealand Red Cross. Application forms and more information about the grants can be obtained from any council service centre in the Canterbury region, Te Puni Kokiri, Income Support offices or by phoning the Government helpline, or downloaded from the New Zealand Red Cross website at www.redcross.org.nz.

By the end of Monday, $4.4 million in donations to the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal had been received. Donations can be made by:

• Making a secure online donation at www.redcross.org.nz
• Calling 0900 33 200 to make an automatic $20 donation
• Vodafone FreeTxt: ‘Quake’ to 333 for a $3 donation, or ‘Quake’ to 555 for a $5 donation
• At any Post Shop Kiwibank, ANZ, National, ASB, TSB Bank and BNZ branch around New Zealand

ENDS

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