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Response to Rotorua QuakeAid collection overwhelming


Response to Rotorua QuakeAid collection overwhelming

ROTORUA 21.03.11:


Rotorua District Council, organisers of Rotorua’s weekend QuakeAid collection say they are overwhelmed by the community’s response to the project.

Over 30,000 items from 20,000 local households were gathered during the massive street-by-street collection to support Christchurch people struggling to recover in the wake of last month’s earthquake.

A QuakeAid army of more than 300 volunteers and 80 vehicles was mobilised to undertake the collection over three hours on Saturday afternoon [29 March]

QuakeAid organiser and Castlecorp business manager Mijo Katavic says Rotorua’s huge contribution of two large containers of packed supplies, will travel by rail to Christchurch tomorrow [Tuesday 22 March] for distribution by the Salvation Army.

“The generosity of our community has been just stunning, and the support from the young people in our community who volunteered to help has been really impressive.

“We collected 31,000 items in just over three hours, while the sorting and packing took another 15 hours. Someone even donated a brand new generator still in its original box.

“Our success in mounting such a large logistical exercise and mobilising a diverse group of organisations and individuals, gives us confidence that if we were to ever face a major emergency of our own the Rotorua community would rise to the occasion and hopefully we would be in pretty good shape.”

Food and supplies collected for QuakeAid included:

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· 4,000 toiletries

· 3,500 toilet rolls

· 3,000 cans of vegetables

· 2,000 cans of baked beans

· 2,000 packs of noodles

· 500 packs of rice.

Mr Katavic says a trailer load of clothes, blankets, toys and other items also collected was to be delivered to the local Salvation Army for distribution.

“On behalf of the Rotorua District Council and the groups and individuals who played a part in the QuakeAid collection, we extend a huge ‘thanks’ to local people who emptied their pantries to give to the Christchurch cause. Well done Rotorua, you’re awesome!”

Mr Katavic paid tribute to the organisations who joined forces on the day for the big collection, including those from St John, Fire Service, including training centre and volunteers, Army Cadets, Rotary and the council."
ends

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