Announcing the Guide Dog Appeal 2001

Preparations for this year’s Guide Dog Appeal are well under way.

The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind will run their annual Guide Dog Appeal on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 April – raising money for Guide Dog Services and other essential services for blind and sight-impaired New Zealanders.

The appeal will consist of a national collection in malls, streets and main shopping centres.

The success of the Guide Dog Appeal lies in the enormous time and effort put in by the Foundation’s volunteers.

Every year thousands of people from around the country spend anything from two to three hours to several months, helping to raise money for the rehabilitation services the Foundation provides, which do not receive any government funding. Those services assist New Zealanders to meet the challenge of sight loss so they can achieve independence.

“Volunteers are vital to the Foundation's ability to continue offering services," says Jeanette Manson, National Manager Funding Development.

"Many of our services rely completely on the money we can raise from donations throughout the year. Guide Dog Services and Library Services are two areas, which receive no government funding and depend completely on the goodwill and generosity of the New Zealand public.

"Although, we do get enormous support from a number of community organisations, schools and churches, we can never have too many volunteers - you can always do with an extra pair of hands,“ says Ms Manson.

If you wish to help the Foundation by becoming a volunteer please phone 0800 DOG DAY (0800 364 329) - and don't forget to give generously when you see our collectors in your town!

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