Red Cross Needs Your Help

Red Cross Needs Your Help

New Zealand Red Crossis urging Kiwis to get behind its annual appeal so it can continue helping people in crisis in New Zealand and around the world.

Next week volunteerswill be asking New Zealanders to generously support the humanitarian organisation, asthey have been doing for the last one hundred years.

NewZealand Red Cross Secretary General Tony Paine says while the organisation is celebrating its 100th birthday, they still need help.

“Sadly the demand for our services increases every year. Whether it’s sending specialist aid workers to help overseas, responding to a domestic emergency like the Canterbury earthquakes or helping resettle refugees -we are always needed and we are always there.

“But we are only there because of the generosity of ordinary New Zealanderswho support us,” Mr Paine says.

One of Red Cross’ first fundraising events was the 1918 ‘Copper Trail’ where pennies were laid between towns aroundNew Zealand. In Auckland alone the equivalent of $9.5m was raised.

Money raised during annual appeal enables New Zealand Red Cross to help those whose lives have been shattered by disaster or conflict.

Last year New Zealand Red Cross taught first aid to more than 62,776 people, delivered 554,843 meals on wheels, transportedmore than 18,898 people to community appointments and sent 44 aid workers on 57 missions in 25 countries.

Donations to the New Zealand Red Cross annual appeal can be made at www.redcross.org.nz/donate

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