Donations and offers of support
The amount of support from the community throughout the last several weeks has been amazing. As we’ve moved into the recovery phase, we’re asking people who wish to donate to do so by gifting to charities or alternatively to make a financial contribution to the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund.
Nelson Tasman Recovery Manager Richard Kirby said many of the agencies involved in dealing with the fire, such as FENZ, Police and others, would rather see those gifts given to benefit the whole community.
"Put simply, the emergency agencies are not resourced to manage the distribution process and they are extremely well resourced to manage their specific needs.
"At the time of the major firefighting effort the locally baked tray of muffins was a welcome sight as was the meal or other goods for the evacuated family. However, now the fire response has moved into recovery with smaller numbers of personnel the emphasis is now on getting properties back into a liveable or productive state. Many businesses and families are just working out what is needed specifically and when that is done it is invariably financial help that is required the most.
"The effort by many who took the time to donate goods, time and services during the ‘crisis’ period, was magnificent and all those involved and affected will be forever thankful."