Our Christmas gift project was bigger than ever this time, bringing a smile to many children and families who would otherwise go without.

Almost 1000 presents were distributed to families nominated by Family Works social workers and counsellors. Most of the gifts were supplied by students from St Cuthbert’s College, and young people from Greenlane Presbyterian Church helped sort and wrap them to fill dozens of Santa sacks.

One mum said that her boys had never had a wrapped Christmas gift before and she became teary when she was given the gifts for her sons. St Cuthbert’s presents were the only gifts another family received and by January, they’d become the children’s most treasured toys.

A family worker had this story to tell about another young family:

“The mum got herself in debt and told me that this Christmas time would be a little sad as there was nothing underneath the Christmas tree. When she saw me with beautiful gifts from St Cuthbert’s she could not believe this was happening! She was so excited and grateful for all this support and empathy around Christmas and had tears in her eyes.”

Thank you St Cuthbert’s for your generous gifts!

CommunityCONNECTIONSSummer/Autumn 2015

IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

28 - 29 MarchNeighbours Day Aotearoa –‘Knowing your Neighbour is a Piece of Cake’*

Check out the PCANZ website www.presbyterian.org.nz &Neighbours Day Aotearoa website www.neighboursday.org.nzfor great ideas and stories

Love Reaches Out Art & Writing

competition – the theme is

‘Love is ………………!!’

Go to Kids Friendly

www.kidsfriendly.org.nz

for more details.

April to August

1 March

Children’s Day– Well Done Boardwww.welldone.org.nz

Lent: ‘Thinking of Others’

18 Feb – 2 AprilWHAT’S ONHere are some upcoming events to inspire you to get involved in your community.

On 1 March we’ll be celebrating Children’s Day – a chance to treasure the children in our lives.

One way many families do this is by displaying their children’s achievements on the family noticeboard or fridge door. The gold star chart, the painting from kindy, the certificate from school... they’re all pinned up there to say “We’re so proud of you.”

New Zealand’s most vulnerable children, though, don’t receive this kind of encouragement. They live without the love and attention that would help them truly flourish.

That’s why we’ve created an online noticeboard where everyone can celebrate children. We’ve called it the “Well Done Board”,and you’ll be able to pin your children’s achievements there to share with friends and family.

The board will also show the needs of the children we work with and the impact Family Works has on their lives, raising awareness of those who so desperately need encouragement.

Check it out at www.welldone.org.nz (going live on the 1st of March).

‘Let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.’ 1 John 3:18 (TLB)

*Used with permission by Te Raranga.

Ever since I watched Nigel Latta’s programme,The Trouble with Booze, I’ve been convicted about my own attitude to alcohol and what I can do to change the way it’s become so readily available in our daily lives.

When I walk into the supermarket, I’m hit by a sea of wine labels promoting super cheap prices. I understand that 80 percent of wine sales today are by supermarkets, but I’ve been asking myself – why? What’s the message this sends to our children?

Then I counted the number of liquor outlets in my suburb. How many outlets are there in your neighbourhood? How many do your children pass on the way to school?

The Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship released its report on 17 December 2014, stating, “We believe that protecting the young from alcohol-related harm is paramount.” They listed 14 recommendations to reduce youth exposure to alcohol sponsorship and advertising, and to strengthen regulations.1

Government and lobby groups are still deliberating the report, but in the meantime, we can take a stand as individuals.

We can advocate for change, and let our actions speak louder than words by refusing to buy alcohol at supermarkets. We can find out from the youth in our churches what their thoughts are around alcohol and help them to have a stronger voice on the issue. Instead of buying from the supermarket, I now go to my local wine merchant who happily shares his knowledge. I might pay a little more but I’m supporting a small business. Another bonus is that I find myself drinking less and less. I feel empowered by taking a stand and, in a small way, making change happen.

Anne OvertonCommunity Advocate

PROTECTING THE YOUNG FROM ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM

1 The full report can be downloaded from http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/ministerial-forum-alcohol-advertising

Children and young people at the Community of St Aidan’s, Northcote, reached out to their neighbours with Christmas gifts made with love.

Youngsters at the Family Fun Night decorated shoeboxes which were then filled with goodies by young people from the ARK@S* youth service group. Most of the boxes were given to Family Works for needy families. Others were given to residents at a retirement village connected with the church, and elderly members of the congregation.

What a great way to start the ‘Summer of Neighbourliness’ by reaching out to others!

*Acts of Random Kindness at St Aidan’s

One of our new elderly Enliven clients was in dire straits. With no family around, he was finding it difficult to look after himself. He had very few belongings, his home was run down, and his clothes and sheets had not been washed for a long time.

Anne forwarded a request for help from Enliven to Ben Dykman, the minister at Greenlane Presbyterian Church. Within a week, the church had found some clothes and bed linen for the old man and dropped off a brand new vacuum cleaner. It was wonderful to see such a prompt response to a cry for help.

BLESSING OTHERS

HOW TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR

Contact details: Anne Overton, Community Advocate

Presbyterian Support Northern, PO Box 99890, Newmarket, Auckland 1149. E: anne.overton@psn.org.nz P: 09 520 8624 M: 027 520 8653.

Or visit www.psn.org.nz for more information or to download more copies.

‘Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children

are a blessing.’ Psalm 37: 25-26 (NLT)