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.
ENDS