Generosity creates hundreds of Christmas hampers

After a tough year in Christchurch, it seems generosity still knows no bounds.

This week, the Christchurch Methodist Mission will distribute more than 500 Christmas Hampers to families and older people struggling with the aftermath of this year’s destruction and upheaval.

“It’s an amazing testimony of how when the chips are down, just how caring New Zealanders really are” said Mary Richardson, Executive Director of the Christchurch Methodist Mission. “Substantial donations from the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Christchurch Earthquake Fund have made this project possible. The money came from all over New Zealand” said Richardson.

“The Methodist Mission has been alongside struggling families and households all year and we knew just how desperately this project was needed this Christmas. So we were just thrilled when the Church and the Earthquake Fund asked us to undertake this huge task”.

David Bush, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in NZ said “ We were acutely aware of what a huge load the Christchurch Methodist Mission had been quietly shouldering through the whole year since September 2010. It was also at some real cost to the Methodist Mission, because they too had lost use of their offices in Durham Street in the February quake. So this was one way the wider Church could help resource an even greater measure of generosity this Christmas.”

The Methodist Mission has the support of a wider team to assist in the distribution of the hampers.  Other community groups, the City Mission, local parishes and businesses are assisting. “It’s a wonderful example of how important being part of a network of agencies is today” said Richardson. “We will always be able to achieve more together, than we will ever achieve alone.”

In addition to the hampers the Mission has made from the donations there are also hundreds of hampers made and donated by families, businesses, public servants and local parishes as part of next week’s Support a Family Programme.

“The Methodist Mission began Support a Family more than 10 years ago. We wanted to help families celebrate Christmas together a home. But for many families, that can be quite a challenge. No more so than this year. Homes, jobs, children’s treasures and in some cases, even family have been lost.”.

“It’s no longer just young families in crisis” said Richardson. “Increasingly we’re alongside older folk who are really struggling. The events of this year have really taken a toll of them. They’re also often the most reluctant to ask.”

“2011 has been quite a year yet remarkably there has been no let-up in the generous support we receive every year from businesses, community groups, families, local churches who make these amazing Support A Family Christmas Hampers possible”. Richardson said

“The generosity has been overwhelming, especially when you realise they too have lost homes, community facilities, workplaces, and for some, even family”.

14 December 2011

Support A Family and A Brighter Christmas

The Christchurch Methodist Mission invites individuals, families, groups, parishes or businesses to Support A Family or a make a Brighter Christmas for an Older Person by providing a Christmas hamper.

This year has been tough for everyone living in the greater Christchurch area. Life has been particularly challenging for children and older people.

Many families are coping with the impact of the earthquake – they may not be in their home, parents may have lost jobs and children may have lost their treasures. Many older people have been displaced, and others are feeling lonely, isolated or anxious.

We ask you to sponsor a family or an older person this Christmas.

It is very simple, you make up a hamper and drop it to the Christchurch Methodist Mission before Christmas – we pass it on to a family or older person in need in need.

Support a Family: Read more...

A Brighter Christmas for an Older Person:  Read more...

Mission has key role in earthquake recovery

Methodist Mission is providing crucial community support for the many Christchurch residents affected by the September and February quakes. Working collaboratively with other agencies, we are

• working with the Police to support the families of those people who lost their lives on February 22nd
• providing information and support at Welfare and Recovery centres
• receiving referrals through the 0800 Govt help line. We match each caller’s support needs with appropriate help from our agency or with other social service groups
• helping to coordinate social service support to schools in partnership with the Ministry of Education and two non-profit agencies. We ensure there is a social work or youth worker attached to each school who can navigate available support services.
• providing group programmes within schools where appropriate including parenting through change, loss and stress, children’s coping with change, loss and grief, etc.
• providing social work and counselling to families and individuals
• providing budget advice, particularly to those who are facining changed financial circumstances
• Wesley care has welcomed residents from other rest homes and hospital which have been force to close sue to earthquake damage

Earthquake response update May 2011

Mission unhampered by earthquake

Despite the significant damage done to our central city premises, The Christchurch Methodist Mission has responded rapidly to the February 22nd earthquake. We are now operating out of premises in Papanui and are adjusting our services to meet the unique challenges faced by our stricken city. You can contact us at our new phone number (375 1470) or by email.

Welfare Working Group

One can hardly expect to improve welfare simply by reducing it. Having people work instead of just accept money is an excellent idea; it won't succeed, however, unless there's jobs for them to work at...

The Christchurch Methodist Mission welcomes a debate on welfare in New Zealand, but belief such a debate should focus on facts. We have therefore produced the short information sheet regarding welfare reform.

Submission to the Welfare Working Group (Options Paper)

Please click here to download the Christchurch Methodist Mission's submission to the Welfare Working Group.

Group Programmes Calendar

Check out the calendar and enrolment details of our group programmes for adults and children for Term 1 2011.

Toolkit for Safer Children – Schools and Communities

The Toolkit has been designed to assist staff from Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary Schools recognise and appropriately deal with, any child or young person who has, or is currently dealing with issues around family violence.

As schools are very busy places the Toolkit has been kept simple. The material contained is practical, concise and easy to use, and in most cases contains common sense information that will already be known to staff.

Ideally schools and staff could fully engage in the material in the toolkit by looking at the issues such as, reviewing and updating relevant policy and procedures, participating in one of the training options available, teaching students about positive relationships and personal safety and creating and fostering an anti-violence culture amongst staff and students.

Lots of additional helpful information can also be found on our website – www.mmsi.org.nz/community-education/advocate/toolkit      

Aratupu -  Centre for Children and their Families

Located in the Heart of Papanui

We are a centre for children and their families to engage in learning and development.

We provide:

• Early childhood education
• On site family support worker
• Advocacy for children and their families
• Community parenting classes
• Visiting Plunket nurses and health professionals
• Nutritious food and food education
• Links to Mission services, including literacy programmes, budget advice, social skills programmes and emergency food assistance

How you can help: In order to maintain and develop Aratupu services the Christchurch Methodist Mission relies on the generosity of our local community. If you are able to help us please contact Andrea at Aratupu, Phone: (03) 352-6816, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    Read more...    

Using your tax savings to help others

All personal tax rates will be cut from October 1, 2010. A "typical family" - with two children and an average household income of $76,000 will be about $25 a week better off. At the Christchurch Methodist Mission we are asking you to donate your first week's tax cut so you can help us to help others. You tax cut could help provide a preschooler with lunches for a week. Read more...