A range of Dunedin schools, community groups and individuals, as well as University of Otago students and staff, have filled boxes with treats for children in Vanuatu. Boxes were given out by the University of Otago Volunteer Centre with a request that they be filled with stationery, toys and a letter for a child in Vanuatu, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in March.
The University of Otago Volunteer Centre started the Dunedin branch of the Kids to Kids Vanuatu collection after being approached by New Zealand coconut oil company Blue Coconut. University of Otago Volunteer Centre co-ordinator Sze-En Lau said it was exciting that a company wanted to enable New Zealanders to help Vanuatu.
''I was thinking that there might be 200 boxes filled but we have had such an amazing response from people in Dunedin. It is very generous of them and also Blue Coconut for organising the shipping of the boxes to Vanuatu.''
''There has been such a range of people who have taken boxes. We have schools involved and also lots of caring individuals.''
Blue Coconut administration manager Dionne Fossey said the Little River-based company had decided to pay for the shipping of goods to Vanuatu because that was where the company sourced its coconut oil.
In keeping with the goodwill already involved with the collection, freight company PBT Couriers offered free transport for the 500 boxes, from Dunedin to Christchurch. Hayward College residential assistant Lucy Hamnett, who worked in Vanuatu as a teacher, had been eager to fill as many boxes as possible for the collection.
''I lived in Vanuatu last year for six months and when the cyclone hit I was so worried. I decided that I would get everyone at Hayward College involved in the Kids to Kids collection and we are filling 75 boxes with treats and stationery to be sent.''
The boxes will arrive in Vanuatu in June.
By Margot Taylor.
