Ordinary people help Auckland’s homeless

Donations for the homeless have flooded in after an East Auckland resident posted on Facebook asking for help.

Jessica Chaney, 27, received nearly 30 full bags of goods after posting a plea for contributions to the needy late May on East Auckland Grapevine, a community Facebook group.

Miss Chaney’s house has become a local drop off point for the donations. and she will be taking all of them to Te Puea Marae, who are currently housing up to 50 homeless people.

The Howick resident felt compelled to do so after reading about a mum and her baby girl sleeping rough.

As a mother herself to seven-year-old Bailey, Ms Chaney said that she too has experienced hardship and that was the final incentive to push her to do something.

“There were points where the only thing Bailey ate was Weetbix because that’s all we had,” she said. “I felt it was my obligation to give back, now that I’m in a better position to help those families.”

The mother was overwhelmed by the generosity of people and is ecstatic by the snowball effect of her post.

“Four or five people from my Facebook page have taken their own initiative to bring up their own donations and start soup kitchens,” she said.

Fellow East Auckland resident Jennifer Daniels, 32, said she donates to the clothing bins every month or so but decided to give her contributions to Miss Chaney.

“Because I did see her post…I would rather donate it because at least I know it’s going to them [the homeless],” she said.

Miss Chaney said helping the homeless isn’t complicated, but rather it’s simply about taking care of your own community.

Tangiwai Tereva, administrator at Manurewa Marae, which is the second Auckland marae to open its doors to the homeless, said helping those in need is a simple process if the community rallies together.

“It’s just all hands on board at the moment and that will make it much easier for ourselves here at the marae,” she said.

The Manurewa Marae is set to begin housing homeless by next week, taking on the overflow from Te Puea Marae, which was the first to help those in need.