Tauranga locals brave the cold today to donate towards the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal to help those in need in the community.

“The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal is the biggest national fundraiser each year,” says Tauranga Salvation Army volunteer Ian Bateman.

“All money received supports the most urgent needs in our communities.”

The Red Shield Appeal was launched in 1964 and the Red Shield logo is well-known around the world as it represents the Salvation Army’s reputation for being on the frontline of need.

Labour List MP for Tauranga, Jan Tinetti, is helping with the Salvation Army Red Shield Collection.

“I’ve grown up with Salvation Army always being the group that are always there to support people no matter what the circumstances they’re in. They do an amazing job and I wholeheartedly support them.

“I often visit the people that run the charitable side of their work and just hear the stories about the people they work with here in Tauranga. They are helping people that are at their lowest point sometimes.

“They’ve got serval sites around the city and just making certain that they’ve got people here that are encouraging people to donate.”

“This week is the 60th anniversary of Red Shield New Zealand, the funds gathered are used to support communities. It may be food, clothing, advocacy, or addictions, and the demand just keeps growing and growing,” says Ian.

Ian was involved in courts and prisons in Tauranga on behalf of the Salvation Army.

“Each day I went to the district court and serve there. I did everything - pay the fine or do the time. It comprised a lot of small activities, but one of them was to provide clothing for prisoners.

“People waited to come through in the cold, they were uncomfortable, so I was there to help. I was able to help settle down people that were agitated and didn’t know what the future held.

“I was involved with the police, lawyers, judges and magistrates across the range.

“I helped a guy in addiction services in Hamilton, he went through the three-month living programme there and came back and got a job in a factory.

“I’m still in touch with him on Facebook, he’s married, has two children and he’s the supervisor of a factory,” Ian says proudly.

“The Salvation Army are always really amazing at being able to wrap around people in need and help people in any way that they can,” says Jan.

“They wrap around people who are at their lowest and give them hope and they don’t give up. They walk alongside them and that’s what’s so amazing about them.

“The public is so generous, it’s a bit overwhelming,” says Ian.

Visit the Red Shield Appeal website to donate today at https://helpthesallies.nz/

For more information, visit the Salvation Army website at www.salvationarmy.org.nz.

Contact the Salvation Army:

Phone: (07) 578 4264

Church email: tauranga.corps@salvationarmy.org.nz

Community Ministries Email: tauranga.cm@salvationarmy.org.nz

Instagram: @taurangasalvationarmy

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TaurangaSalvationArmy

Family Store locations:

Tauranga City Family Store

375 Cameron Rd

Tauranga

Phone: (07) 578 4268

Open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday: 9am-4pm

Greerton Family Store

157 Chadwick Rd

Greerton

Tauranga

Phone: (07) 571 6286

Open Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm; Saturday 9am-1pm

Brookfield Family Store

140 Otumoetai Rd

Brookfield

Tauranga

Phone: (07) 576 0546

Open Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm; Saturday 9am-2pm

Mount Maunganui Family Store

268 Maunganui Rd

Mt Maunganui

Tauranga

Phone: (07) 575 6399

Te Puke Family Store

38 Jocelyn St,

Te Puke

Tauranga

Phone: (07) 573 3904

Pāpāmoa Family Store

Fashion Island

Pāpāmoa

Tauranga

Phone: (07) 925 9866

Welfare

Counselling and assistance with food, furniture, clothing, emergency housing, budgeting and whanau support is available from our Tauranga office. Please contact us at:

Tauranga Community Ministries 375 Cameron Rd, Tauranga. Phone: (07) 578 4264 Email: Tauranga Community Ministries

Addictions

There is a Bridge programme in the Tauranga area. This provides a safe, integrated, high-quality treatment service for people whose lives have been affected by the harmful use of, or dependency on, alcohol or drugs. Please contact us at:

Tauranga Bridge 176 Fraser St, Tauranga. Phone: 027 837 4343 Email: Tauranga Bridge

A Recovery Church is available at 51 Fifth Ave, Tauranga, on Fridays at 5.30pm. Contact Laurie Bell

Tauranga Corps 51 Fifth Ave, Tauranga 3110. Phone: (07) 578 4264 Email: Tauranga Recovery Church

Accommodation

We help with emergency accommodation in the Tauranga area. Please contact:

Tauranga Community Ministries 375 Cameron Rd, Tauranga. Phone: (07) 578 4264 Email: Tauranga Community Ministries

Youth & Children

Tauranga Corps runs various programmes for children. There is a Kid’s Church and various activities held throughout the year. Please contact our office for more details:

Tauranga Corps 51 Fifth Ave, Tauranga 3110. Phone: (07) 578 4264 Email: Tauranga Youth and Children Facebook: Tauranga Children’s Ministries

Courts & Prisons

We do not offer court and prison services in this area. Please contact our Tauranga office to see how we might help you. Please contact us at:

Tauranga Community Ministries 375 Cameron Rd, Tauranga. Phone: (07) 578 4264 Email: Tauranga Community Ministries