Media Release

Saturday, 3 December 2016

‘Love in a Box’

For the last few weeks our Canterbury communities have been doing their best to give back support by helping those affected by the November 7.8 earth quake.

There have been some amazing initiatives that come from the heart and straight out of people’s homes and neighbourhoods. In the first week the amount of food and supplies donated almost overwhelmed the region and there were a few days of holding off transporting more. Some people were like Miss Lily in Kaiapoi who went from her small catering business to within a few days a full logistical command centre. Others like Brighton’s Michelle Whitaker, who has extensive earthquake recovery experience, jumped straight into linking people and organisations together. Under the newish Eastern Rising group who are shining the light on Eastern Christchurch promise on PlainsFM, Michelle went into community support mode. From letting Kaikoura Emergency services know there were concerned family in Christchurch worried about their family isolated up Blue Duck Valley. An elderly family member had been injured in the quake and another had only a few days left of insulin left. She also moved quickly to get pillow slips, duvets and blankets from the New Brighton Blanket Bank to earthquake evacuees.

For the next two weeks of December her wellbeing collective, Flourish Inc who usually deliver initiatives like the River of Flowers, are focussing on supporting the local small business communities hard hit in the Hurunui and Kaikoura regions.

“We really want to support those living in damaged homes, going through aftershocks and cut off by roads. As Canterbrians we remember exactly what this was like.” Flourish Inc are firstly supporting people whose livelihoods are at stake. Michelle Whitaker who is the Director says, “Many of these small businesses on SH1 have now found themselves off the main route or out of their damaged premises at their busiest part of the season. Or like Hanmer are not having many visitors or tourists. They are also dealing with damaged or stickered homes and frazzled nerves. So I came up with ‘A Gift Box that gives twice’!”

The Alpine Pacific in a Box is a way to support those earthquake affected communities by purchasing a mix box of yummy artisan products.

The project is on Pledgeme for next 2 weeks only, finishing on the 16th of December. As Michelle says “we need to meet our target to make this happen. It’s a way of paying up front so we can get the money to those small artisan businesses before Christmas. We also are using volunteer help to keep the costs down.”

If it is really successful, the initiative will continue into the summer holiday period and maybe even a transitional pop–up shop in Christchurch to continue the support.

https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/4960-alpine-pacific-gift-box-that-gives-twice

https://www.facebook.com/AlpinePacificinabox/

ENDS

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