Helping Families Nelson

Making sure whānau in Nelson–Tasman have access to the essentials when life gets hard.

Nelson / Tasman

In Nelson–Tasman, nearly one in three children are living in poverty — around 6,000 tamariki in our region. For many whānau, meeting basic needs has become overwhelming and more families than ever are reaching out for help.

We started Helping Families Nelson in 2018 after seeing children uplifted from their homes with nothing. Today, our volunteer‑run charity supports local families through tough times by providing essential clothing, toiletries, baby items, bedding and household basics. We work closely with schools, social workers and community agencies to make sure support reaches those who need it most.

Your donation goes straight back into our community. It helps us purchase urgent items we can’t always source through donations — nappies, formula, toiletries, new socks and underwear, bedding and other essentials that make an immediate difference.

We’re always open to ideas, suggestions and offers of help. And if your whānau is struggling, please reach out — we’re here for you.

Find out more at helpingfamilies.org.nz

Registered Charity: CC55968

More about us

After seeing a real need for clothing for children uplifted from their homes and placed into care with nothing, we came up with the idea for Helping Families: a way to support local families with some of the essentials required for raising small humans, so they can thrive and reach their full potential. To do this, we collect donations and distribute them to the people who most need it.