Prebbleton School pupils raised just over $1100 for the luckless owner of the nearby Prebbleton Dairy on Springs Rd, following the two ram-raids in May and a break-in in late April.
The school’s executive officer, Tegan Thornley, said the kids felt very sorry for dairy owner Sangeet Mehta. Many of them walk past the shop daily on their way to and from school.
It led to pupils suggesting they could hold a mufti day to raise money for the dairy. More than 500 pupils showed up in mufti, each donating a gold coin or more.
Thornley said while the school often does mufti days to support charities, this was the first time the pupils raised money to help out locally.
“The owner was so appreciative. He was quite overwhelmed when they told him what we were doing,” she said.
Dairy owner Sangeet Mehta said he couldn’t be more thankful.
“I really appreciate each and every kid, management, teachers, and everyone . . . I’m especially glad that I have that kind of community to stand with me in hard times,” he said.
With his house attached to the shop, the ram-raids and the break-in were difficult for Mehta and his family.
“I can see what’s going on, I can hear the noise . . . It’s definitely been a hard time.”
In spite of that, it was the words and actions of the community that meant the most, Mehta said.
-By Rowan Sinclair
