About 40 Student Volunteer Army (SVA) members from James Hargest College, Southern Institute of Technology and Southland Boys’ High School, as well as some adults, rallied to help those in need in the aftermath of last week’s storm.
Southland Boys’ SVA ambassador Jacob Wilkinson-Hall, 18, co-ordinated the cleanup project.
Jacob said it was the first time many of the army members had been mobilised and the experience was "awesome".
"A lot of these young people learned what volunteering was and how they can go out further into the community in the future to be able to go and do more things.
"It’s been amazing to see the community spirit in action and we’re proud to have played a part in Invercargill’s recovery."
He put a post on social media asking for those who needed help to respond.
Emergency Management Southland risk and safety adviser Joshua Ward supervised which jobs the students could do safely.
The students completed jobs including pulling down fences, glass houses and sheds and minor roof repairs.
The people they helped were very grateful.
"A lot of them were the elderly, so a lot of them couldn’t do the jobs by themselves."
The group spent Friday evening, Saturday and Monday working and had a thank you party at the end where Invercargill mayor-elect Tom Campbell was one of the guests.
