That was before last week, when thieves stole the log-splitter used to make the firewood donations possible.

Dunedin City Baptist Church caretaker Malcolm Cowan says thieves cut through the chain link securing the log splitter, which had been stored in the church grounds.

"We were quite gutted when we came up here on Thursday," he says.

"The only remains were the wee linkages that had been cut; that has been locking and securing it."

He estimates it will cost around $4,000 to replace the machine.

Community effort

Until the theft, the church's firewood programme had been doing well. It was a tightly-run programme that had the community contributing everything to make it possible.

Cowan and co-worker Harold Thompson say firewood programme supporters donated the money that paid for the log-splitter.

City Forests donated the logs from wood that had been rejected for export at Port Chalmers.

The church contacted nearby schools to find out which families were struggling and offered them free wood.

Cowan and Thompson cut the wood up.

Cowan says they've given away about 130 cubic metres of firewood before the theft.

"We fill a trailer up and take them some free firewood which they really appreciate. [We give away] about 2.2 cubic metres at a time on our trailer."

Now what?

The theft means logs are being left on the ground, unable to be split. They'll stay that way unless a new splitter is found or someone gets busy on the end of an axe.

"We can keep ringing up the wood that we've got, but we can't split it unless we do it all by hand," Cowan says.

He says he's put a "pretty significant" sign outside the entrance to the church, appealing to the public for any help in locating the log-splitter.

The Dunedin Baptist Church in Concord asked anyone who had any knowledge of the stolen log-splitter to contact them or the police.

Source

• ODT

Residents of Beach Haven, on Auckland's North Shore, have become used to the daily social media updates from 64-year-old Peters (Ngatiwai, Ngapuhi) - and have taken him to their hearts.

Peters started the donations, daily leftovers from a commercial catering company, when he was approaching retirement age and on a benefit after spine surgery left him unable to work.

"I thought 'Yes! I've finally found something!'" he said, telling the Herald the donations gave his life purpose. Read more

St Philip and All Saints Anglican Church has distributed over 1,000 energy efficient light bulbs to locals. They got the idea after seeing a similar scheme's success through an Anglican Care initiative in Christchurch.

Deacon Rev. Margot Goodman decided she wanted to bring the same assistance to help her local community.

The new project had the support of Anglican Care in Christchurch which sent three people to help.

They provided the lightbulbs, which they source from the Government's Cosy Homes funding.

"We did door knocking around the neighbourhood in pairs on Thursday and Friday [to distribute bulbs], and on Saturday we had a pickup station at the church for people who wanted them or were not home when we called."

Goodman says about 300 bulbs were collected at the pickup station on Saturday, with about 100 bulbs left. The Anglican Care helpers from Christchurch said this was a "very good result."

Looking after the community is a responsibility that goes with her job as deacon, Goodman says.

"We know that people are struggling, and every cent counts."

She says she's been told one energy efficient light bulb could save about $20 a year on a power bill.

"Imagine that saving when people get 10 of these lightbulbs," she says.

For people in state houses and for older people "every saving is good," she says.

Goodman is unsure if the church would distribute energy efficient light bulbs again. If it were to, she would focus on another Timaru suburb.

Source

• Stuff
• Image: Stuff

The former rough sleeper's name is Richard (pictured with some supporters including Nick Smith - right). Until recently, Richard was living in a tent on the outskirts of Nelson.

His life turned around a couple of months ago when Smith found him sheltering outside his office in the rain. When he found out Richard was homeless, he went door knocking.

He didn't stop until he found a motel Richard could stay at.

It's great, but the same "normal" life takes some getting used to, says the former rough sleeper.

"When I lived in the forest I had no contact with people. I have found it hard to be with people after spending so long alone."

But with a community behind him, the 71-year-old is sticking with it, one day at a time.

Smith is still looking out for Richard too.

Once he'd found somewhere for him to live, Smith started a Givealittle page.

Stuff news media website picked up Richard's story. Donations and offers of help flooded in.

One reader offered to pay for his hearing aids and dentures. Another sent him a spare pair of hearing aids. Others sent cards and clothing.

Smith found that people want to help. He made phone calls and people opened their hearts.

The story reached Kiwi Journeys director Andrew Schwass. He arranged a new e-bike for Richard at cost, through Electrify NZ.

The bike will be in constant use as Richard walks and bikes everywhere. That includes 7.5-kilometre trips between Nelson and Richmond.

"It's good to help someone out," Schwass says.

A dentist, Justin Kabir, offered to fix Richard's teeth. He'll be doing as much as possible free of charge.

"There's an element of giving back to the community, but dentists are also healthcare professionals," Kabir says. "When you come out of dentist school your aim is to help people. It's nice to be able to do that for Richard."

Richard is grateful for everything, although the last few weeks have been a little overwhelming, he says.

"I've always been self-sufficient and I've always been shy and quiet. A couple of times everything got too much and I wanted to run away."

He likes the comfort and stability of a motel room though. If he starts feeling stressed he gets out on his bike or takes a walk.

Richard is optimistic about the next few months. He and Smith are looking for a rental property where he can settle. Then he plans to take up a hobby and perhaps get back into gardening.

"I want things to get better, to get out a bit and meet people."

His biggest dream is to go to Wellington for the World of Wearable Art show.

"I'd really like to see the show and I've never been to Wellington," Richard says.

Source

• Stuff
• Image: Stuff