Children in therapy receive generous community donations

Children in therapy receive generous community donations

Children receiving treatment at Taranaki DHB’s Child Adolescent Community Centres (CACC) in Taranaki have a reason to smile, thanks to the donation of more than 70 teddy bears from customers of Calendar Club in Centre City.

65 of the donated teddy bears were delivered to the CACC prior to Christmas, with the remaining nine bears to be delivered in the next fortnight.

Irene Jarkiewicz , licensee/operator of Calendar Club said “We know how tough it can be for those kids and their families so we jumped at the chance to do something positive for them, while increasing awareness of the services provided and hard work that goes on at the CACC,” said Ms Jarkiewicz.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, customers at Calendar Club were given the option of adding an extra five dollars to their purchase in exchange for a teddy bear, which they could either keep or donate to children receiving treatment at the CACC.

Sue Tipler, Taranaki DHB CACC Clinic Coordinator said, “The bears received so far have been given out to children at both New Plymouth and Hawera clinics and have been very well received. The kids’ eyes lit up and the teddies received immediate hugs with huge smiles all round. Thank you to everyone who made the kind donations.”

Child Adolescent Community Centres are run in both North and South Taranaki, with patients ranging from newborn to 18 years of age. A multi-disciplinary team provide a coordinated therapy service for all children and adolescents with extra needs, such as developmental delays, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, sensory disabilities, coordination problems and low birthweight (in newborn babies).

“Referrals to these services come from GPs, Plunket nurses, Paediatricians, Special Education Services, schools and ACC. Children are assessed and treated at home, school or at the centre itself and appropriate specialist equipment is arranged for them,” said Mrs Tipler.

“We thought we would end up with 20 to 30 teddy bears, so we were pleasantly surprised when more and more people began to donate. To have 74 bears donated by our customers to children at the CACC indicates the high level of generosity and support there is in the Taranaki community,” said Ms Jarkiewicz.

Calendar Club is an annual pop up kiosk that operates in Centre City from the first Monday in November until the first Monday in January.

ENDS

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