Lowe reports that 69 grants have been given to charities and agencies throughout greater Auckland to help families, people and communities in need.

"The outpouring of generosity throughout the country and overseas has been humbling," he says.

"Your gifts have already helped so many begin their recovery from these severe weather events."

Lowe says his Foundation is committed to supporting social services and community groups to reach those in need, especially families.

Mid-February, Lowe offered to expand the range of the Caring Foundation's reach, calling it a national appeal that also covers the damage in the Hamilton and Palmerston North dioceses (ie Coromandel, Gisborne, Napier/Wairoa).

Donations - the stats

Lowe reports many donations helped the Caring Foundation gather tens of thousands of dollars.

They included:

• 1200 donors - individuals, parishes, schools, religious congregations, ethnic communities
• 27 schools - which held fundraising activities

Between them:

• $621,000 was raised: $281,000 for the cyclone appeal; $340,000 for the flood appeal.

Lowe says some money has been sent to foodbanks, parishes and social agencies. Bedding, clothing and furniture have been frequently purchased items, he notes.

He says the donations were also used to help in some schools where the disasters had severely impacted students, helping students pay for school uniforms and stationery.

"Thank you for being a lifeline to our sisters and brothers in these challenging times." Lowe says.

Source

• Caring Foundation

"Homes have been totally destroyed, leaving many families literally with just the clothes on their backs. They will have to begin to rebuild their lives from zero," she says.

But, besides being left with nothing, Parker is concerned that many will miss out on getting the help they need.

"The information we've been getting from our partner agencies on the ground is that there are still many families who are too ashamed and embarrassed to come forward for help.

"They have no cooking facilities, no food and pantry items, and no kitchen utensils. Furniture, clothes, bedding, precious family memories have all been thrown out after being contaminated by flood water," she says.

Help is available

Loraine Elliott, Vicar for the Catholic Caring Foundation's Social Impact and Communications, is also concerned.

"Families are still struggling with the flood waters that rose so quickly.

"They are suffering from trauma and the shock of losing their homes and belongings.

"Some of them are now faced with trying to get their children to school with no uniforms or stationery. It will be a long road to recovery."

She is urging people to turn to the Foundation if they need help.

"The Caring Foundation is able to move quickly and with impact so that funds can get to the front-line where they are desperately needed," she stresses.

Bishop's emergency flood appeal for help

Catholic Bishop of Auckland Steve Lowe has launched an emergency flood appeal to help families in the Auckland diocese who have been devastated by the recent floods.

The Catholic Caring Foundation is accepting donations on Bishop Steve's behalf to help agencies in the Auckland Diocese deliver vital help to the many families severely impacted by the floods.

"Like you, I was shocked to see the destruction the floods brought in such a short time. Like you, I want to help those whose lives have been thrown into disarray," he says.

"Donations from the emergency appeal will be used for food, shelter, clothes and other essential supplies and support services.

"Many of the Foundation's partner agencies have been working around the clock to ensure that people are safe, and able to get the help that they need quickly."

With more bad weather on the way, the Foundation is still looking forward to receiving much-needed donations, he adds.

Source

• Supplied - Catholic Caring Foundation

To allow this to happen the diocese of Auckland, through its agency the Catholic Caring Foundation, has launched an appeal.

Star of the Sea parish in Blenheim has welcomed the move.

"Since our amalgamation of all three parishes including Picton, Blenheim and Kaikoura, we are in a much improved position to identify the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable within our community.," said the spokesperson for the Blenheim Parish.

"Although there is not much information coming out of Kaikoura at the moment we already have an established knowledge on the needs of this community."

"We welcome any support the Catholic Caring Foundation is able to offer and wish to thank the wider Catholic community for its support."

The Catholic Caring Foundation will absorb all administration costs of this campaign so that 100% of all funds raised will go directly to assisting the most affected and most vulnerable families.

Bishop Dunn will determine how these funds will be allocated on an ongoing basis so that donations can have a fast and effective impact on those in distress. In addition, Bishop Dunn has asked for prayers for all those who are affected by the earthquake.

How you can help:

Please consider a donation:

By Post to: The Catholic Caring Foundation, Private Bag 47904, Auckland 1144.

By Direct Credit: BNZ 02-0100-0242648-000
Please include your first and last name as a reference and QUAKE as the code. For a receipt, email info@caringfoundation.org.nz including your mailing address.

By donating securely online: to http://www.caringfoundation.org.nz/donate/online-donations/

• Please specify that your donation is for the QUAKE appeal.
• Please spread the word with your networks, through social media, word of mouth or by copying this statement and emailing to others.
• Run your own fundraising event and donate the proceeds to this campaign.

The Catholic Caring Foundation will publish information on the progress of this initiative.

Source

• www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• sunlive.co.nz

After the Mass representatives from these organisations were presented with certificates.

The mass took place at this time to draw attention to Caring Sunday which occurs on 26 July.

In 1988 Bishop Denis Browne, set up the Catholic Caring Foundation as an independent entity for the long term, with its own volunteer Board of Directors.

Since that time the foundation has allocated over 12 million dollars.

The Foundation helps those in need throughout Auckland, Northland and Coromandel, by providing not only financial assistance, but also mentoring and moral support for families and communities.

When allocating assistance to the organisations it helps, the Foundation adopts a broad view, funding both Catholic and non-Catholic organisations.

Each service the Foundation assists meets a particular need whether in special education for adolescents who are no longer in mainstream schooling, chaplain support for prisoners, or specialist support both physically and spiritually for intellectually disabled people.

The Catholic Caring Foundation also supports programmes supporting youth development, counselling and mentoring services for troubled youths to a specialist psychological service in one South Auckland school, all come under the Foundation's scope.

Each year the Catholic Caring Foundation reaches out to over 40 organisations.

Source

• aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• caringfoundation.org.nz

The report claims Pacific people now have the highest unemployment, the lowest incomes and a widening income gap that could mean they're left behind when the economy recovers.

The average Pacifican income is $479 a week compared with $721 for non-Pacific adults, which represents an increase of just $2 in five years for Pacific adults, compared with $54 for everyone else.

One of the report's authors, Ronji Tanielu, says the huge income gap and painfully slow growth in pay affects everything from housing, to problem debt and putting food on the table.

Mr Tanielu says there's been a big spike in demand from Pacific families for Salvation Army food parcels, budgeting advice and drug and alcohol addiction services.

Speaking with CathNews, Parish priest of Otara, Auckland, Fr Brian Prendeville SM, agrees with the report's findings.

Fr Prendeville says he is noticing an escalating demand on the parish's social outreach programmes.

"We've a lot going on in the parish to help, and we've noticed a marked increase in the call on our family services, food parcels and counseling.

"Our parish branch of St Vincent de Paul is also reporting increased activity," Fr Prendeville said.

Fr Prendeville said that some have used the excuse of the economic recession to benefit themselves.

"Pacificans need to be paid a just and comparable wage", he said.

It is a story echoed by the Auckland Diocese's Catholic Caring Foundation.

Clare Wade, General Manager says that this year the Foundation received a record level of grant applications and it has a huge challenge allocating $650,000 towards families in chronic hardship.

"We have seen a massive jump in requests for help with food-parcels, budget advice, emergency housing and problem gambling.

"Pacific Island families without homes or incomes are the group most affected by poverty in Auckland," Wade said.

Salvation Army urges NZ Government action

The Salvation Army is urging the Government to revive its Pacific Wave unit of work brokers and extend Pacific youth training schemes.

The report's authors say that unless something is done to reduce unemployment and lift Pacifican income, Pacificans will need more handouts and debt to loan sharks will only get worse.

Finance Minister Bill English says the Budget 2013 will help the most vulnerable people in society "who the Government has served very poorly in the past".

Mr English told TVNZ's Q+A programme, Sunday, "Closing that gap is a pretty big challenge."

Pope urges Catholics to seek out those needing help

Speaking, Sunday, from the steps of St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis lamented a world where homelessness and hunger was not news.

"If we step outside of ourselves, we will find poverty," he said, repeating his call for Catholics to do more to seek out those on the fringes of society who need help the most.

"We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those (who need help most)," he said.

Sources

• Radio New Zealand
• NZ Herald
• Huffington Post
• Image: Bay of Plenty Times