Auckland charity brings Christmas cheer to Auckland preschoolers
Christmas has come early for preschoolers at seven childhood centres around Auckland.
The Kindness Collective Foundation is bringing Christmas cheer to 250 vulnerable children at these facilities run by the Taonga Education Centre:
Nga Taonga Aroha Early childhood centre in Otara, Aranga Early Childhood centre in Manurewa, Homai Nga Taonga ECC, Manurewa, Nga Taonga Manako ECC, Kelston, Eden Campus ECC, Mt Eden, Kakano Early Childhood Centre in Clendon and Potiki Early Childhood Centre in Clendon.
The Auckland charity has paid for Christmas parties, trees and decorations for each childcare and is buying Christmas presents for the youngsters.
But the giving doesn't stop there.
The charity is donating 80 food boxes and grocery vouchers to childcare families to tide them over during the expensive festive season.
"The Kindness Collective Foundation heard about the hard work we do at our centre to keep our whanau going and they reached out to me to offer their help," said Emma-Jane Jones, centre supervisor of Nga Taonga Aroha Early childhood centre in Otara.
Jones said 2020 had been a tough year financially and she was "blown away" by such a giving gesture.
"At my centre in Otara, I don't have any parents that pay fees so we're always a little bit strapped for cash... and for them to jump on board has been phenomenal."
Jones said she believed in giving preschoolers wrap- around care which extended to their whanau.
"We make sure the children always have clothing, rain jackets and food and that's often coming out of our teachers' pockets."
Jones said that if the charity had not stepped in, she would have had to pay for her centre's Christmas party, which kicks off on Thursday.
"I have four children of my own and my children have learned from a young age that they're privileged in some ways and quite often my children get less so I can support the children in my care," she said.
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
What workplace change would you like to see most?
This coming Monday is Labour Day in New Zealand. This public holiday marks when the eight-hour workday and 48-hour workweek became law in 1899. The idea started with Samuel Parnell, a carpenter in Wellington, who in 1840 refused to work more than eight hours a day. Since skilled workers were in short supply, his employer had to agree.
As more skilled workers arrived, employers tried to change working conditions, but Parnell and others kept pushing for better rights. In 1890, Parnell led a Labour Day parade of 1,500 people to promote the eight-hour day. He passed away shortly after, and nine years later, Labour Day became an official public holiday.
Do you feel that we have reached the ideal in working environments yet? What rights are you passionate about relating to employment? Share your thoughts!
Poll: Does grocery bagging affect where you shop?
There's only a few differences between our larger chain supermarkets here in New Zealand. Having someone bag your groceries is one of them.
Does having your groceries packed for you at the checkout influence where you do your grocery shop? If so, tell us why.
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24% Yes
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75.3% No
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
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