Craig Butler, Administrator for Palmerston North Diocese shared this email with our Diocese.
Through very generous contributions from parishioners, schools, and other dioceses the Palmerston North Diocesan Cyclone Appeal has raised in excess of $215,000 and the appeal will now close at the end of May.
Since February 2023 nine Hawkes Bay Catholic schools have been provided with over $65,000 of immediate financial assistance. These funds were used for student wellbeing, trauma counselling and to help with transport costs for students.
In addition to supporting our school communities, financial assistance of $5,000 has been provided to St Vincent de Paul in Hastings to support young people and a further $10,000 to provided further help with kitchen items, furniture, bedding items, clothes, and food.
The Diocesan Allocations Team engaged a specialized trauma councillor, to facilitate various sessions for the Hawkes Bay community, providing much needed coping tools for those impacted by the disaster. Expenditure to date on this important service has amounted to $15,000.
We are currently processing a further $30,000 in requests for financial support and continue to work in collaboration with our affected communities to meet anticipated demand.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this fund, helping our people in their need, and ensuring they know that they are not forgotten and that we do care.