The Dunedin Night Shelter Trust can breathe a sigh of relief, after a flood of donations arrived to cover a funding shortfall over Christmas.
Recently, The Star reported that the trust might not have enough funds to operate the Night Shelter through January until its 2015 grants funding came through in February
Readers immediately responded to the call to action, with companies, organisations and individuals offering support.
Among them was Dunedin law firm Wilkinson Rodgers, which visited the Night Shelter in Lees St last week to hand over a donation of $3000.
Wilkinson Rodgers partner Dick Crush said the funds had come from money that would normally be used to buy bottles of wine for clients, who had been very supportive of the idea.
''Donating those funds to the Night Shelter Trust is a much better use of resources,'' Mr Crush said.
He knew of several Dunedin businesses which were also donating to the Night Shelter rather than giving gifts to clients, and challenged others to do the same.
Another business to respond to the call is Health 2000, co-owned by husband and wife Graeme McAuley and Nicola Dean, which would donate $1000 to the Night Shelter Trust rather than distributing gifts to staff.
Mr McAuley acknowledged the generosity of Health 2000 staff, who had been supportive of the move.
''It is good to be able to do our a little bit to help out at this difficult time of year,'' he said.
Other donations have included $500 from the Catholic Diocese of Otago, $1000 from Mercy Hospital, $536 from St Philips' Church, $500 from NZCU South staff, $3000 from A and P Baughen, $500 from J Freeman, and many more smaller contributions. University staff also chipped in with 616 pairs of socks.
Dunedin Night Shelter Trust chairman David Brown said the support was wonderful.
