MEDIA RELEASE Title: Blankets and Beanies Keep Quake City Warm
AUCKLAND, NZ - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have filled 24 boxes to help keep Christchurch
warm.
Over the past four weeks, church members from Panmure, Mt Wellington, Pakuranga and Eastern suburbs of Auckland have
collected blankets, beanies, scarves and warm winter jackets to send to the garden city.
Church leader Ross Pokere says members are concerned for Christchurch residents after the February 22 earthquake.
“While we are far away in Auckland we are still concerned about those people in Christchurch who continue to struggle
with the ongoing affects of the February earthquake and subsequent aftershocks”, he says.
Christchurch winter temperatures plummet and many families in the Eastern Suburbs are without reliable heating due to
collapsed chimneys and power cuts. They need warm winter blankets and clothes while they wait for repairs to their
earthquake damaged houses.
This project follows the recently launched “Lunches for Linwood” initiative where the church donated $50,000 to provide
a free daily lunch to the students of Linwood College in Christchurch.
The decile 2 secondary school was badly affected by the February earthquake, and students still travel by bus across
town to attend classes in another school.
Freight management company Geodis Wilson NZ organised free shipment of the goods through DL Transport Ltd and Express
Cartage to the Grace Vineyard Church Care Centre, New Brighton where goods are being distributed.
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