After almost 2000 hours of general labouring duties around New Zealand and during their semester breaks, Lincoln University students will hand over two cheques totalling $18,000 to two Christchurch organisations – Van Asch School for the Deaf and Burwood Spinal Trust.
The ‘lend a hand’ scheme was developed by the students who wanted to contribute to Christchurch following the February earthquake and on Tuesday 11th October 2011 from 4.30pm to 6.00pm the students will present the cheques to the two praiseworthy organisations.
One organisation who donated to the scheme was Kiwi Nomad and Kathy Weaver didn’t hesitate to get involved. “I admire the students for coming up with the marvellous idea for a joint fundraiser and community assistance scheme. The two students, Amy and Haidee, who helped me for a day each in June and August, were wonderful. We were able to catch-up on some much needed property maintenance and at the same support two worthy organisations recover from the earthquake.”
The students contacted organisations in their respective regions of Otago/Southland; Mid/South Canterbury; Nelson/Marlborough; Wellington/Wairarapa/Manawatu; Bay of Plenty; Waikato; and Auckland/Northland. They offered to undertake general labouring duties for a day (or more if required) in exchange for a contribution to the special fund.
The volunteer work the students conducted ranged from vineyard maintenance in Marlborough, to farm work in Waimate, to establishing a cycle trail in Greytown. The Otago/Southland group even assisted in running a function with the Prime Minister at Nokomai Station.