News Release
2 March 2009

See Red For The Victims Of Disaster, Conflict And Emergency: New Zealand Red Cross’ Annual Appeal 2009

New Zealand Red Cross is asking people to SEE RED during the organisations’ biggest fundraising event of the year – annual appeal 09 that runs from Monday 2 March until Sunday 8 March. The main street collection will occur across the country on Friday 6 March.

To allow people overseas and right here in New Zealand to continue to SEE RED, the red of the Red Cross responding immediately to those most in need, New Zealand Red Cross asks the public of New Zealand for their generous support during appeal week.

New Zealand Red Cross National President Penny Mason says over the past year the Red Cross has repeatedly offered humanitarian assistance to meet the basic needs of millions of people worst affected by a combination of events such as frequent disasters, food insecurity, conflict and the global economic crisis.

“Thanks to the support we receive from the public, New Zealand Red Cross has been able to respond overseas and right here at home in times of disaster, conflict and emergency. In times of crisis, Red Cross offers assistance in a neutral and impartial manner, independent of any cultural, religious or political affiliations,” says Mrs Mason.

“If we’re to continue to immediately respond and help those in greatest need, as we have done during the recent deadly bushfires in Australia, we really need the generous support of the New Zealand public during our 2009 appeal.”

While New Zealand Red Cross volunteers will be out and about in communities across the country accepting donations in a variety of ways during appeal week, people should expect to SEE RED on Friday 6 March, when most main centres will host street collections.

People who miss the SEE RED collectors can call 0900 73327 to make a $20 donation or make a secure credit card donation at www.redcross.org.nz.

Money raised from the appeal will be used to fund a wide range of New Zealand Red Cross projects and activities including the Breakfast in Schools programme that offers over 1600 hungry Kiwi kids a healthy breakfast each morning, funding the deployment of humanitarian aid workers internationally, developing New Zealand Red Cross’ emergency response capacity, and sending immediate funding to purchase appropriate goods in response to a disaster.

ENDS

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