“After our home was flooded it was small community groups like Sunrise that were there when we needed it and that meant a lot. Big national organisations didn’t check on us at all,” says Lizzy.
In conjunction with Sunrise and local group Te Hahi, Lizzy (aka ‘the Mayor of Fergusson Drive), organised a street BBQ for families who had been impacted. Counsellors also attended to chat informally and offer support. For the children, Sunrise used passthrough donations from Bennydale School to purchase Muirs book vouchers, enabling them to replace a much-loved book.
“Getting local support highlighted the importance of looking after our own patch, and as a family we wanted to give back - to the help the community who had helped us.”
A Sunrise flyer, ‘Can you give up a cup of coffee a week?’ prompted the Burns family to set up an automatic payment to support Sunrise’s Environment fund.
Donating to the Environment fund felt like a logical choice for them after all they'd been through in the natural disaster.
The Burns children each donate $1 a week from their hard-earned pocket money, and this is topped up by parents Lizzy and Russ. Lizzy hopes that fostering an early understanding of giving will develop her children’s appreciation of where they live and the role they can play in making it better – for themselves and future generations.
“I wanted the kids to be involved and understand that a little bit from each of them adds up over time and makes giving totally achievable,” says Lizzy. “What we liked about giving through Sunrise was knowing our gift will be invested and always grow.”
Glenda Stokes, Sunrise executive officer thinks it’s amazing what Lizzy, Russ and the kids are doing and agrees it’s never too early to teach children the concept of giving.
“By involving her kids in the process, Lizzy is empowering them to make a difference to causes they care about. They’re much more likely to become charitable adults if that mindset is developed from a young age,” says Glenda.
Taking their support of Sunrise one step further, the Burns’ whanau plan to host an event during Sunrise Week in November, with any proceeds earned from it to benefit Sunrise’s Environment fund.
“I don’t know what that event will look like yet, but it’ll be something orange and it’ll involve lots of kids. Maybe even a mini digger and bouncy castle. Watch this space,” laughs Lizzy.
Learn more about Sunrise Week and how you can be involved here.
Learn more about the different ways you can become a Sunrise donor here.
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