Following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, Taradale Anglican Church stepped up into a space of community support. In the immediate aftermath, we became a distribution hub and support agency. In more recent time, as the recovery has continued, we have moved into the space of fund holders and administrators, particularly for the community of Pakowhai.
In a similar way to trusts in Puketapu and Eskdale, we hold the funds for the Pakowhai Funding Committee. Drawn together primarily from the Hawkes Bay Funders Forum, we have collected over $600,000 to be distributed to the community of Pakowhai, and by the end of next week will have given over $400,000 of this away in direct grants to those who need support. These grants come alongside events and infrastructure that are designed to help restore a sense of community to the area.
We would like to thank the Hawkes Bay Funders Forum, the Pakowhai Funding Committee and the accountants at the Diocese of Waiapu who have made our church's part in this work possible. As the primary point of communication for the granting process, Alan reports on the blessing it is to be able to hear peoples difficult stories and to be able to help them, even in a small way, through the provision of a grant.
More about the utilisations of the Pakowhai Community Support Fund will be discussed at our Forum Meeting on Sunday, 12 December.
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