24 February 2005

Sir Barry A Willing Volunteer For Volunteers' Awareness Week

Volunteers Awareness Week 6 - 12 March aims to heighten people's awareness of the great job volunteers do in the community.

Leading the way for his city is Mayor Sir Barry Curtis who will be volunteering his time to two worthy causes in Manukau, in the wards of Mangere and Pakuranga.

Sir Barry says, "This is a practical way to contribute. I am looking forward to working with the team from Mangere CAB promoting their community services in the Mangere shopping Centre at lunchtime on Friday 11 March; following that I will be visiting MASADA, Glen House Pakuranga, to speak to young disabled people.

"As we all know volunteers are critical to the quality of life and effective functioning of any city; I know that first hand here in Manukau where it is estimated there are over twenty thousand volunteers.

"Literally hundreds of organisations are able to run smoothly and offer a service to the community with the help of volunteers who give either a little or a lot of their time to enhance the quality of life and standard of living of so many of our residents.

"During this week we pay special tribute to Manukau's volunteers and thank them for their valued contribution over the past year. I encourage residents to give some thought to contributing some time to volunteer work this year. Even a few hours a week could make an enormous difference to someone's life."

ENDS