One more week to go!
8 February 2022A huge thank you to everyone who has already donated. We are almost half way to our goal of raising $20,000 to meet the urgent needs of those most affected in our village, Kolomotu'a.
Now we need to pick up the pace and urgency with just one week left to reach our goal. We're in regular contact with friends and family in Tonga and the situation remains severe, with the main issues being the devastation of homes and community infrastructure, and food security due to contamination from the volcanic ash deposits.
It has been humbling to see the community here in Auckland mobilising to support their Tongan neighbours in crisis, whether connected to the Tongan community or otherwise. I was moved to see this generosity at the shipping dispatch centre which has been set up at Mt Smart Stadium.
We now know what the immediate and ongoing requirements are looking like in Tonga and will be ready to action this in a week's time when fundraising is complete. We have already started to meet immediate needs by sending supplies of bottled water and non-perishable foods which we will continue to do at a larger scale with the release of funds, and we will then move on to sending building supplies that are much needed to rebuild and repair homes.
The first case of Covid 19 since the start of the pandemic was recently detected in Tonga just a few days on Friday and the nation has been moved to lockdown. This will provoke a whole new challenge for the islands in recovery. https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/127693115/covid19-in-tonga-new-community-case-detected-as-lockdown-extended
Thanks again for your support during this difficult time and please spread the word, Ofa atu❤️