19 Feb 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle donations: 'We don't need clothes'

3:24 pm on 19 February 2023
Volunteers sorted supplies in Haumoana in the Hawkes Bay.

Volunteers sorted supplies in Haumoana in the Hawkes Bay. Photo: Supplied / Christie Campbell

Donations are flooding in to the embattled Hawke's Bay, but a volunteer from the Haumoana community says while people have been generous, they're not sending the right things.

Volunteer Christie Campbell says many donations centres are now at capacity and have a limited amount of people to process the donations.

Volunteers sorted supplies in Haumoana in the Hawkes Bay.

Volunteers sorted supplies in Haumoana in the Hawkes Bay. Photo: Supplied / Christie Campbell

She said they needed to balance what they were receiving with what was required, as well as the realties of what they can process.

"Things that are really needed are toiletries, toothbrush, toothpaste, loo paper, body wash, cleaning products," Campbell said.

Baby formula, nappies, shelf stable food and water were also needed.

"We don't need clothes except for gumboots, sneakers, socks and underwear," she said.

Campbell said they were incredibly grateful for all the amazing donations they had received.

"But unfortunately at the moment we just do need the right things to be delivered."

Campbell said items such as bedding and clothes may be needed in the future, but not right now.

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