Greytown’s business community is the latest group to fundraise for flood-hit communities.
Country Village Heaven – made up of 60 businesses in Greytown – is fundraising in various ways to support areas in Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
There will be three raffles worth a combined total of $10,000, White Swan Hotel is donating proceeds from rose and red wine sales, and Saunders Shoes will contribute 25 per cent of its Saturday profits.
Organiser Adam Blackwell said the community is determined to donate after the floods.
“The idea was triggered after seeing Hawke’s Bay, and even our local rural community – we know communities in Wairarapa have had a tough time.
“We didn’t want to just focus on Hawke’s Bay but, at the same time, they are our neighbours and we know they would help us if we were in a crisis.
“Pretty much everyone from Country Village Heaven is involved in some way.
“The fact that the whole of Greytown pulled together is pretty cool,” Blackwell said.
“We’re continually surprised by the generosity of Greytown. You see it strongly, in small towns – everyone feels the need to act like a family because we’re very connected.
“Some businesses are helping through donating charitable prizes for the raffle, others are selling tickets or donating proceeds of their profits to the cause.”
While some groups have donated goods like tinned food, Blackwell said financial donations are also important, noting “the official channels have been saying money is more important than anything else in the clean-up”.
He said the money will be donated to Hawke’s Bay next week.
The raffles will be drawn on Monday. Tickets can be purchased from Greytown retailers who will have a Country Village Heaven sticker on their doors.
