Record funds raised for struggling parents

Parents struggling to pay for their children’s back to school costs will get more than $70,000 dollars of help this year thanks to generous Warehouse Stationery customers.

The $73,754 was donated through the Add a Dollar campaign, run over three weeks during November and December.

This is the eighth year customers at 67 Warehouse Stationery stores have been invited to add a donation to their purchase, with customers showing extra support this year, raising almost 12% more than the previous year.

The money raised is converted into gift cards that The Salvation Army distributes to families in dire material need to help pay for school supplies.

The Salvation Army’s head of social services, Major Pam Waugh, says the vouchers have become an important way of easing pressure on families facing the costs of uniforms, fees and stationery, many still reeling from the expense of Christmas and school holidays.

She says the voucher system has another equally important purpose. “We find many children become socially isolated because of their parents’ financial situations, so ensuring they have what they need when they start school and are not embarrassed or left out in the cold socially, is very important. Many of our clients’ children have very few personal possessions.”

The Warehouse Stationery store with the most generous customers was Henderson in Auckland, followed by the nearby Lincoln Rd store in second place, and Te Awamutu ranked third.

Warehouse Stationery Chief Executive Officer Pejman Okhovat says the appeal is one of a number of community programmes Warehouse Stationery supports to help families and young people in need.

“We are delighted by the success of this latest campaign which confirms the generosity of New Zealanders to help others less fortunate than themselves,” he says.