Meri Kirihimete Everyone,
If you’re reading this then you’ve been one of the many, wonderful supporters of the Petal Foundation over the last year or two. I hope you don’t mind us contacting you with this update, but with things really starting to gain momentum at Petal - and after the challenging year we’ve just had - we thought why not share some of the good things that have been happening!
In 2021 Petal took great strides forward. Firstly, I am over the moon to be able to report that our Petal home is up and running. We had a busy few months freshening up the house to make it fit for purpose -renovating with a new kitchen, installing a top grade security system, bespoke baby spa, new roof, a lick of paint and an upgraded laundry. There are so many people that I want to thank for their help with this that there’s a whole ‘thank you’ section below!
While this was all going on the fabulous team of Awhina, Mereteowai and Betty tirelessly documented our policies and procedures. This critical paperwork is all about keeping Petal babies safe – as well as mothers, grandparents, guardians and everyone involved. A huge feat to tick this off the list!
With these things in place we welcomed our first baby for respite care. Baby hadn’t attached with its parents, was suffering from delayed development and had sadly spent too much time in their car seat so had a terrible nappy rash and rash over their body. Within a couple of months of care at Petal, baby started to interact enjoying the bath spa and sleeping in a cot. This is what all the hard work has been about and why it’s so worth it. And this of course is why we are so grateful for your support.
Next steps is for the Petal Foundation to be approved as a ‘Unique’ community provider and ‘Fee for Service’ provider for Oranga Tamariki Social Services. We have been appointed an assessor to review and audit policies and procedures and Petal home, which is due end of January’22. Once that has been granted we expect the Petal home will quickly become very busy.
So after over four years, and a lot of hard work from our amazing team and many of you, it feels like we’re really on our way. 2022 is going to be a great year for our little foundation and we can’t wait to help many more pepi and their whanau’s who are in need of some extra support.
Rongi Hari Aroha everyone and all the best for the New Year,
Jo xx
We have been working with a fantastic network of charities and organisations to make sure any surplus donations get to those most in need as quickly as possible. During our latest lockdown we worked together with the St Heliers Bay Church & Community Centre and the Glen Innes Family Centre on a very successful donation drive, helping local families who were struggling during lockdown.
And in what has become an annual tradition, our very own Mr and Mrs Claus clean, repair and wrap mountains of donated toys to give out to kids who might not get many, or any, gifts. Thank you so much Raewyn & Peter!
A huge thank you to all these wonderful people who’ve given so much of their time…
