Cyclone Gabrielle Relief

Hello my loves,

I hope you’re all doing well.

A heart wrenching and unexpected post today, but I couldnt quite brush past such a heart wrenching event as a cyclone which has left the upper north island of New Zealand in mourning.

I honestly cant even believe I’m typing ‘cyclone’ and it certainly wasn’t like anything I’ve lived through before, despite my best friend asking me if I hadn’t just gone soft from being away from the UK for so long.

Nope. This was not like any weather I have seen back home or anywhere else for that matter. In fact, this was a severe weather event as storms cut off entire towns, washed away farms, bridges and livestock, and inundated homes, stranding people on rooftops. Ten thousand people have been displaced and by Thursday afternoon, 3,455 people had been registered by police as “uncontactable”

It truly is a heartbreaking event and it’s so easy to feel helpless in these situations, but I thought few suggestions directing people in the right direction wouldn’t go a miss.

Firstly, I know it is incredibly hard to sift through all the fundraising pages and make a decision on where your money is best suited, but personally have felt Stuff’s Red Cross appeal was an important donation point as they are FANTASTIC in the work they do. Stuff (that’s a media company here in NZ for you non kiwis) themselves have already donated $10,000 to get the ball rolling. A link to where you can donate has been placed at the bottom of this page.

Other helpful alternatives:

-Share these donation links.
-Get in touch with relevant volunteer groups.
-Pull together specific items to donate that locations need. (Please check beforehand if the items you are donating are needed)
-Stay in touch with friends and whānau.

Just one of these actions can have a hugely profound affect on someone impacted by this weather event and no donation nor act is too small during these times.