Tuesday
On this ultimate day of 2013, we want to give thanks for the year that has been…for all that YOU gave.
For the love shared, the time and gifts given, the friendship, the laughter and the tears, the ups and the downs, the endless projects, work bees and appeals and the delight we felt when we gave what we could.
We are grateful for such had an amazing year …thank YOU for choosing to be in it with us ..and thank God ultimately for giving us GRACE through it all.
Tuesday
Marist College – Theme: Homelessness
Earlier today I met these young ladies at a central city boarding house that provides emergency accommodation for vulnerable people. On an earlier visit to this hostel one of the girls Fatima had noticed that the walls of their dining area were rather bare …she had a particular love for art and felt moved to do something. She spoke to her friends about it and over the last couple of weeks they spent many hours working on pieces of art to give to the residents to display on their dining space walls. Today they able to gift this artwork. Thank you for seeing a need and giving of yourself in response…it is kind deeds like these that truly reflect the spirit of Christmas.
St Patrick’s Cathedral : Christmas Appeal for Families
Up to the very last hour of Christmas Eve we were still delivering food and gifts..some desperate families have been leaving numerous messages and camping out on the doorstep in the hope that they could get some help. Situations for some of these families range from being evicted from their flat due to unpaid arreas to last minute bills . We were so relieved to get another call from St Patrick’s Cathedral staff to say they had another carload of donated gifts and food. The recipients were so so moved and overwhelmed..even surprised when they received the gifts and food 30mins ago.
Thank you St Patrick’s Cathedral !! & Merry Christmas to u all!
Tuesday
Kingsland Center
Santa’s jolly helpers delivering gifts and hampers to families. A big thank you to all our generous donors for the gifts and food that we received this week. May God Bless you all! with your donations we have been able to prepare and deliver up to 1700+ presents.
Wednesday
Today the Vinnies staff received a pleasant surprise – the Divine Mercy youth turned up at midday in front of our building and serenaded us all with their beautiful Christmas music. We were so moved by such a beautiful act of love. Thank you Susana and your youth we love having you as part of our Vinnies family. We wish you all the best during this blessed season. Divine Mercy you rock!
Video Link:
Young Adult Vinnies Group
Great to have our young adults crew at the center again today! We thought we could see the light at the end of the tunnel and then got another urgent request for 250+ pressies that we did not have… and then guess what ?!! MORE gifts came through the door…and these wonderful volunteers tuned up outta the blue to sort them ready for dispatch !!
Saturday
A young man who just had a birthday decided he was going to do something different. Instead of gifts, he asked everyone who came to his birthday to bring cans to donate to his local Vinnies foodbank at Massey Parish…Thank you Rc…
RC belongs to the Massey Parish Youth group and is also a committed Vinnie at his school and parish.Good man!
Monday
Sancta Maria College
Sancta Maria College donate over 100 personalized gifts worth well over $2500 to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Each class was given names and ages of children who are currently living in Auckland refugees. Thank u so much, God Bless!!
Tuesday
Kingsland Center
Today we had a morning tea to farewell our dear Retts van Dam; Coordinator of Vinnies Auckland YoungAdults and Bill van Dam (Secretary of AMCC Kingsland Office SVdP). These two will be sorely missed by our collective. They have dedicated more than 20 years as Vincentians and have achieved much in their time of service. Thank you Bill and Retts for all you have done and all you have done in service of others.We also would like to mention David van Dam and the Van Dam whanau for all the amazing support and background work you have quietly carried out in support of SVdP. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. May God Bless you and keep you safe
Wednesday
Young Adult Vinnies Group
Today Albert, Sonya, Zion and David helped to sort the children’s Christmas presents! A massive thank you to them and all who have given gifts.
Tuesday
Vinnies Family
Packaging gifts and writing around 600 cards for the Mt Eden prison!!
Friday
Marist College
Just picked up 400 Christmas packs from Marist College! Shout out to all the juniors, Mrs Brebner and her staff for prepping all these packs for us and especially supporting our brothers at Mt Eden Prison!
Shout out to the management and staff at Smith and Caughey for the donations of personalized presents for our families in refuges!! Over 100 perssies! God Bless you all !
Young Adult Vinnies Group
It is done!! 1000 gifts for prison officially completed..Thanks Tutangata and Jola for putting the final packages together…and big shout out to everyone who worked on this project.
