Volunteers still urgently needed for Blind Week

Volunteers still urgently needed for Blind Week

The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (RNZFB) is making an urgent plea for help and needs to find at least another 8,500 volunteers nation-wide for Blind Week 2002 (29 October - 4 November).

The RNZFB needs to raise over $1 million from the appeal and volunteers are the crucial element.

“The appeal will only be a success if we have enough volunteers out there collecting for us,” says Penny McEwan, RNZFB National Appeals Manager.

“We are extremely grateful to those who have volunteered BUT we need more!”

“This time last year we had a much better response from people volunteering to assist us collect needed funds,” says Ms McEwan.

Numbers of volunteers still needed in each area are:

Auckland/Northland 2,700
Waikato 500
Bay of Plenty 100
Hawkes Bay 400
Wellington/Taranaki 1,105
Nelson 250
Canterbury/West Coast 2,000
Otago/Southland 1,400

Ms McEwan says Blind Week volunteers can either knock on doors or collect at local shopping centres and supermarkets.

"We really rely on people not only volunteering their own time but also encouraging family, friends and neighbours to give a couple of hours to collect for us,” says Ms McEwan.

"So, PLEASE make contact if you have a couple of hours to spare!"

Anybody wishing to volunteer a couple of hours of their time to help the RNZFB collect funds can either phone 0800 002 345 or register online at http://www.rnzfb.org.nz.

The Foundation’s Blind Week appeal raises money to provide essential services for more than 12,500 blind and sight-impaired New Zealanders – services that help Foundation members to challenge their sight loss while maintaining their independence.

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