Recently our Community Foundation sat down with the charities that have received grants from us in the past eighteen months in Kawerau, Whakatane, and in Opotiki. This round table process allows the people who are doing great things in our communities to let us know of the impact that the funding they have received from generous donors to our Foundation, has had in their organisation and the challenges they are currently facing.

There is a real benefit to all around the table to have a greater understanding of the work of others and the services they provide. It is a forum to ask questions and lay bare the successes, the needs, and the aspirations of those working in the not-for-profit and social enterprise space.

This year one of the greatest challenges for our charities has been recruiting willing volunteers. Volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and ages. The liquorice all-sorts of what charities do within our communities allows all people a chance to shine and utilise their particular talents, to put up their hand and say ‘I can help with that’… from supporting a young person one hour a week as a ‘big brother or big sister’, to listening to children read in a local school or kohanga, to making cups of tea to calm patients in the ED department of our hospital, driving an elderly person to an appointment, or making up food parcels at the foodbanks. Volunteering is the beating heart of our community- the wheels of so many organisations would fall apart without them, and many essential services like Coastguard, Surf Life Saving, Fire Service, Hospice, Alzheimer’s, Search and Rescue would not be able to deliver services without volunteers.

We urge you to think about your own passions and skills, think about the time you have available – from setting traplines to protect native species to planting and protecting our coastline dunes, being a listening ear, playing a game with a child or an elderly person – what could you help with? Volunteering provides people with a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging in a community, increases social skills, connection with others, helps make new friends, stretches the comfort zone, and brings a sense of happiness and contentment. Why wouldn’t you roll your sleeves up and help? Our charities need you.

Applications for our 2024 grants open on May1st – www.easternbaycommunityfoundation.nz