Local farmers are being given an opportunity to support the Wairoa community.

Mayor Craig Little and councillor Denise Eaglesome-Karekare have been working with AFFCO which has offered to process 100 lambs with the meat to be donated to local families most in need.

“We now need farmers to come on board and donate lambs so we can maximise this opportunity for our community.”

Mr Little said the idea is for local farmers to donate lambs to the welfare cause.

“The lambs will be processed free of charge by AFFCO and then given to already established welfare groups to be distributed to people who have been identified as needing meat packages.”

Mr Little, a farmer himself, has started the campaign by pledging four of his own lambs and challenges other farmers to donate at least one lamb.

“I really hope our local farmers take this seriously and get behind the cause. Even take leadership for your area and organise a group of you to donate lambs and leave them at the designated pick up point.

“I will be contacting farmers myself via phone and social media, but it would be a lot easier if farmers contact me themselves.

“And if you don’t have any lambs but would like to support the concept then we would welcome cash donations which could go towards transport and additional meat processing such as making sausages.

“The plan is to have a handful of centralised pick up points in the district and Kiwi Transport will collect the stock and take it to AFFCO.

“Farmers have been very lucky through this COVID-19 period and lockdown. As essential businesses not a lot has changed for farmers, just a few less trips to town and less socialising.

“In most cases we have large areas to stretch our legs on and are quite self-sufficient.

“People in town do not have access to the same resources as we do, they are constrained and limited by their house and section size.

“This is our chance to support our community and help others.”

Ms Eaglesome-Karekare said she had already had great feedback from farmers she knows who want to support the cause.

“This is about town and country coming together in these troubled times and doing it Wairoa style with a united community.

“We are also grateful to the willingness of AFFCO for coming on board and supporting our community.”

To donate please call or text Mayor Craig Little on 027 4757278.

20 April 2020

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