Dinner ‘way to give back to community’

Wanaka Community Hub chairwoman Yeverley McCarthy with members of the Barrington family, (from...
Wanaka Community Hub chairwoman Yeverley McCarthy with members of the Barrington family, (from left) Ella (12 months), Millianna (4), Sam and Noyah (2), who were caught in the lockdown and hope to attend the free Christmas-themed dinner at the hub next week. PHOTO: KERRE WATERWORTH
It may be June, but Wanaka Santa's Grotto helpers are hard at work organising a Christmas themed dinner for 150 visitors and locals next week.

Wanaka Community Hub chair Yeverley McCarthy said the "team" wanted "to do something" to bring some cheer to the visitors and the elderly who were isolated in Wanaka by the Covid- 19 lockdown. 

Wanaka Community Hub chairwoman Yeverley McCarthy said it was a way "to give something back to the community".

"We are so busy in our own lives but the lockdown made us all slow down and realise that we can get along with all our neighbours and meet a lot of new ones, and that some of them are really very lonely."

At the same time volunteers handing out food vouchers to migrants and visitors caught in the lockdown or who had lost their jobs had made her realise "a lot of those kids were in despair".

"They can’t get home, and they are wanting to talk to the volunteers just to have someone to talk to," Ms McCarthy said. Sam Barrington, his wife Shelly and daughters have registered for the dinner.

Mr Barrington arrived in Wanaka the day before the Covid-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions came into force.

They had been living in Auckland for two years and were on a seven-day South Island holiday before Mr Barrington was to due to start a new job in Brisbane.

"All our stuff is in Brisbane in a container in storage waiting for us, but they have cancelled all work visas so we are stranded here," Mr Barrington said.

The job was still there, but all their savings for setting up in Brisbane had been spent on food and accommodation in Wanaka, he said.

Ms McCarthy said the dinner was "first in, first served".

She said it was an alcohol-free event and the menu included ham on the bone, turkey and venison, a roast vegetable dish, roast potatoes and apple crumble and cream.

Ms McCarthy said the dinner was being funded by the Upper Clutha Christmas Trust. 

kerrie.waterworth@odt.co.nz

 

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