After the Black Origin meat processing factory in Gore went into liquidation in December, things were looking bleak.
Help, though, was at hand from both close by and far away.
The Gore community helped out and then Silver Fern Farms staff at Finegand contacted the Clutha Filipino Society to ask them to help the six workers, who were struggling without employment, society president Jovenal Cardinoza said.
After taking the call, Mr Cardinoza, his wife Nora and their friends Rey and Emily Sonio dipped into the society’s funds to deliver a care package of foodstuffs and support to their worried countrymen on Sunday afternoon.
"They lost their jobs on Christmas Eve, they have no job and no money, but the Gore community have found them a home."
It was not easy for the men as they struggled with English and just wanted to work and earn for themselves and their families.
Mr Cardinoza said most had been working in New Zealand for about a year and a-half, one had a wife and children here and all were supporting family back in the Philippines.
"It was the first time we met them. We brought them plenty of rice, noodles, bread, sugar and coffee and things like that."
Mr Cardinoza immigrated from the Philippines in 2008. He lives in Balclutha with Nora and their two children and is a meat inspector at Finegand.
"The Clutha Filipino Society started about seven years ago. I have been president four years and we have about 70 members but there are a lot more Filipinos in the district," he said.
"Right now there is no bus for workers from Gore. We want to keep doing what we can for them but it’s pretty hard to find housing in Balclutha."
Silver Fern Farms was contacted but declined to comment.
