Volunteers are an integral part of many community based organisations. Tiaho Trust is proud to have a number of volunteers who take time out of their day to be part of an initiative to improve disabled peoples access to their community by providing a volunteer driver service.
This service gives disabled people access to a wheelchair accessible van to get to doctors and specialist appointments, the supermarket and other social activities within the Kaikohe area.
The van was funded by the ASB Community Trust and purchased by Tiaho Trust in response to a lack of accessible transport in the mid north. The van is also being utilised part of the time to get disabled children to school.
Maria Wihongi of the Kaikohe Disability Information Centre, recently organised the Tiaho Trust Volunteer Support Dinner at the King Wah Restaurant which was a huge success.
Existing and new volunteers were invited as it gave everyone an opportunity to get to know each other.
Maria Wihongi gave a short speech on how this year had slowly unfolded and how the Tiaho Trust appreciates the time that people have given to the service. The volunteers were then presented with their gifts along with their First Aid Certificate and a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of their support.
This soon drew a crowd around the tables with tourist taking snapshots of the volunteers, clapping, cheering and whistling when each individual came up to receive their taonga’s. “You could certainly see the pride in each person when they walked up to me” Maria said.
Mihi‘s soon followed by the kaumatua’s of the group thanking Tiaho for the opportunity and how proud they were to be apart of this. Each mihi was finished with waiata, which echoed throughout the whole mall. There were people from the Kaikohe East School, the Kaikohe West School and Staff from Te Hau Ora o Kaikohe who were there at the Restaurant clapping and cheering. It was an amazing night with much dancing and singing taking place.
Tiaho Trust is proud to have so many people who want to support and give their time to be part of this initiative; it is very much appreciated. We would like to take this opportunity to wish them all a happy and festive Christmas and look forward to seeing them all again in the New Year.