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Wellington Shoebox Christmas Kia ora e te whānau Shoebox Christmas! I hope you’re all having an awesome time making memories and moments of appreciation with whānau, loved ones, or your happy self. This message from a whānau who were receivers of gifts and are now gifters, is a great Christmas Eve reminder of why the project exists, and the difference you’ve all helped us make as a community. “We have 2 children who are a little older now (college and intermediate) and they were blessed to have received Shoebox Christmas gifts when they were at primary school. It meant the world to our family as we were struggling to keep our heads above water at the time and we just couldn’t see the light at the end of the holiday tunnel, so to speak. The gifts our children were fortunate enough to receive made all the difference in their world, and ours, they were so over the moon, that was an amazing gift for us as parents. This year things have changed with us starting our very own family business and we have been blessed to be able to participate in giving back to an amazing cause and we will continue to do so in the future. So Merry Christmas to all the Shoebox Angels and we hope you all have an absolutely Blessed new year :)” Have a good one team. Let’s do it again next year. Pera

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from Pera Barrett https://ift.tt/2Sm9iJC via IFTTT

Wellington Shoebox Christmas Kia ora team, a quick update and video from Rachael who dropped off the remaining gifts and food packages for the homeless whānau who relocated to Porirua. There’s been a massive amount of aroha and atawhaitanga (love and compassion) from lots of you over the last few days and it’s been beautiful to see. You’ve given that in the form of food parcels and gifts for them and the whānau who took them in. Thank you for caring for those of US who are in most need of that care. The 13 tamariki and three adults in this household will experience a bit of what many of us are lucky enough to think of as normal this Christmas: kai on the table, presents under the tree, and a moment of not needing to think too much today about what tomorrow might bring. The adults were incredibly moved and grateful for the smaller load I took out on your behalf a few days ago, I know this is going to be hugely appreciated. He waka eke noa – We are all in this canoe together. Pera

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Community can be a beautiful thing. from Pera Barrett https://ift.tt/2Q57Qs4 via IFTTT

Thank you to the teachers

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The purpose of Shoebox Christmas is to create a positive experience for our tamariki to help them make positive decisions later in life. Our teachers do this day in and day out. Thank you for that. https://ift.tt/2edWMJS #shoeboxchristmas from Pera Barrett https://ift.tt/2Euc2fW via IFTTT

Exclusive: ‘Jail was important for me’: How Scribe lost his way, rehab and recovery six months sober “Jail was important for me.”

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Outside the props our bro deserves for 6 months sober, he also deserves a massive kia ora for sharing the kōrero and reminding our brothers and sisters out there what’s possible. Hearing a story of coming up from the hood to achieve success on the stage is one thing. Believing you too can beat your …

Exclusive: ‘Jail was important for me’: How Scribe lost his way, rehab and recovery six months sober “Jail was important for me.” Read More »