Auckland City Mission Needs Your Support in Lead-up to Christmas Rush

Over the next three weeks, thousands of struggling Auckland families will come through the doors at the Auckland City Mission. The weeks leading up to Christmas are the Mission’s busiest period, and the organisation needs your support in order to meet the heavy demand for assistance.

The level of desperate need in New Zealand’s largest city remains as high as ever, with the Mission distributing 10,924 emergency food parcels in the year to June, 2015 – the bulk of which were given to families with children.

December 31st also marks City Missioner Dame Diane Robertson’s final day as Auckland City Missioner. Dame Diane, who has steered the organisation for twenty-two years, says that the challenges faced by Aucklanders have increased over the course of her tenure.

“The people who seek the Mission’s help, especially in the lead-up to Christmas, do so for countless different reasons,” she explains. “Illness, accidents, job losses and the death of loved ones can trigger financial desperation. Children are out of school, meaning additional funds may need to go towards childcare, or struggling parents find themselves needing to feed and look after extended family members. The stress associated with this time of year also leads to higher incidences of family violence and relationship separation, leaving vulnerable children and their caregivers without the resources – or even a safe place – to celebrate Christmas.”

Dame Diane says it’s important to remember as we move into 2016 that the issues faced by those who come to the Mission both in December and throughout the year are issues that most of us will face at one time or another – however, a lack of family and community support means some people are unable to meet these challenges without the help of organisations like the Mission.

This December, Dame Diane urges every Aucklander to Become Someone’s Angel and support the Mission’s Christmas Appeal in order to ensure that those who desperately need support are able to receive it.

“I’ve worked at the Mission for more than two decades and have witnessed time and again how incredibly generous the Auckland community can be. Please help make this our most successful Christmas Appeal yet by Becoming Someone’s Angel today. A donation of just $10 is enough to pay for someone – a vulnerable child, isolated elderly person, or rough sleeper – to enjoy a hot meal on Christmas Day.”

Donate to the Mission’s Christmas Appeal today at becomesomeonesangel.co.nz

ENDS

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