As New Zealand has moved into Alert Level One and a stable phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, Northland Community Foundation renamed the Northland COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund the Northland COVID-19 Recovery Fund. “Now that the health risk has diminished, we are turning our focus to recovering our community sector,” said General Manager of Northland Community Foundation, Greta Buchanan. The Northland COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund has been well received and raised a total of $90,000 since March, thanks to The Tindall Foundation, Foundation North and an anonymous individual donor who are our major donors of this fund. It provided much needed support to people affected by the coronavirus. Funds were used to help provide care packs to Moerewa and its neighbouring communities as well as support food bank at Open Arms Whangarei. Multicultural Whangarei and Bream Bay Community Trust were also recipients of the fund to support their community groups that needed immediate help during the lockdown.For patients of Northland District Health Board (NDHB) Hospitals who are affected by COVID-19, the Northland COVID-19 Emergency Response Patient Support Fund provides grants of up to $500 to help them financially. Priority is given to patients who are 55 years plus, living in rural or isolated areas, in a difficult financial situation, managing a long-term or acute condition(s), and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients may use the grant on expenses such groceries, warm clothing, heating appliances, utilities, etc. Many have been grateful for the funding provided and commented that they are amazed at how efficient the process has been. “Northland Community Foundation has been a great resource for the community as another avenue of funding available to support those providing assistance to the community. It was great to be one of the panel members of the Northland COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and know that recipients of the fund were able to use these funds to directly help the most vulnerable in our community,” commented Northland Regional Council Civil Defence Emergency Management Officer (Welfare), Claire Nyberg.“The Patient Support Fund is providing much needed support to patients across Northland,” said Dr Nick Chamberlain, Northland DHB chief executive.“Since coming out of Level 4, our social workers are identifying patients who are experiencing intense financial stress. COVID-19 is having a ripple effect for many whānau in the community. We know that there are sub-standard living conditions throughout Northland especially in isolated communities, so this fund has been able to alleviate some of the pressure and hardship being experienced. The fund supports older people with getting basic living requirements such as warm clothing, heaters and food.” Funds transferred to the COVID-19 Recovery Fund will now be focused on helping the community sector ensure the ability to continue support services that Northland need in the long run. Many community groups in Northland have not been able to fundraise, have experienced an increased demand in services and needed to adapt to service delivery to operate safely. The COVID-19 Recovery Fund will help provide funding to these organisations so that they can continue to operate and serve their respective communities. “We want to ensure our local community groups that they will be supported in their road to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Funding priority will be given to organisations that provide immediate or essential services that have a positive influence and long-term impact in our region,” said Greta Buchanan Give now to the Northland COVID-19 Recovery Fund.
