Charity house sale to support community

20 June 2014

Charity house sale to support community

Lew Findlay of Palmerston North Street Van (Inc.) was this week presented a $15,000 cheque from UCOL’s Faculty of Trades and Technology, raised through the sale of a charity house build.

The home was built last year by Palmerston North based UCOL students working towards a Certificate in Carpentry Level 4.

UCOL Head of School for the Built Environment Danny Reilly says he is pleased to be able to support Palmerston North Street Van (Inc.).

“It’s an organisation funded through community support, and we consider ourselves a community polytechnic. Students get a lot out of being able to contribute to their communities while they learn real-life skills that will help them gain employment.”

Palmerston North Street Van (Inc.) has operated for 18 years. As well as operating Street Vans in the City at night to assist people who may need food, a hot drink or transportation, the organisation also runs several Shepherd’s Rest accommodation facilities and a range of support programmes for people suffering from addictions.

Coordinator Lew Findlay says the money will be used to fund the organisation’s recent move into a bigger and better facility on King Street, and to do some much-needed Street Van repair work.

“We as an organisation are so thankful to the UCOL staff and students for the effort they have put in to make this donation.”

The current UCOL charity house build, started earlier in the year by this year’s Semester One Certificate in Carpentry cohort is nearly complete and will be auctioned later in the year to raise money for Arohanui Hospice.

ENDS

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