The University of Otago Christchurch kaimahi and tauira are supporting The Christchurch Aunties for this year’s holiday collection. From left are Administrator Rebecca Wood, Med student Holly Bissett, Operations Lead Fran Barrett, PhD candidate Asqa Shahid and Student Experience Co-ordinator Amanda Clifford.
Otago kaimahi are doing their bit to help brighten up the holiday season for those in need.
From collecting gifts for children, kai for a foodbank, and school supplies for a charity that supports wāhine and tamariki experiencing family harm, staff are pitching in wholeheartedly.
University of Otago Christchurch (UOC) Student Experience Co-ordinator Amanda Clifford says initiatives like these “bring staff and students together to support those who need a hand up”.
“Our campus has a strong tradition of giving back to our local community,” Amanda says.
“Supporting these efforts strengthens our sense of community and helps uplift those around us.”
Amanda is the Co-Chair of the UOC Events Committee, which has both staff and student representation. The Events Committee has organised the UOC holiday collection this year, supporting the charity The Christchurch Aunties.
“Staff and students nominate organisations for us to adopt at Christmas. From these nominations, the Events Committee chose The Christchurch Aunties because their kaupapa closely aligns with the Otago staff values that guide how we serve our community.”
The Christchurch Aunties is a passionate and diverse network of people who share a common vision: a Canterbury where all women and children affected by abuse and family harm are safe, supported, and well-resourced.
The UOC Campus is collecting items for The Christchurch Aunties’ “Back to school” drive, to fill backpacks with school essentials that will be delivered to tamariki and rangatahi across Ōtautahi.
Items can be dropped off at the UOC AskOtago desk, Room 504 in the main UOC building and to UOC departmental administrators.
“The Christchurch Aunties community-led model demonstrates whakawhanaukataka, strengthening relationships and collective responsibility across Ōtautahi,” Amanda says.
“The charity’s mahi creates a real, tangible impact, and we are proud to stand alongside an organisation whose actions align so closely with the values we strive to uphold.”
The Social Impact Studio on the Dunedin Campus is collecting presents for children, in support of Foster Hope’s Christmas Gift Drive. On the left is Programme Activator Sam Reckas and on the right is Social Impact Studio Manager Sze-En Watts.
Social Impact Studio Manager Sze-En Watts and her team are organising a collection for Foster Hope, the fifth year the Studio has supported the charity.
Every year Foster Hope collects new, unwrapped Christmas presents for children – newborn through to 18-year-olds – in care across Aotearoa.
“Foster Hope do incredible mahi supporting young people, and their Christmas Gift Drive is a simple but powerful way for us to support them during what can be a tough time of the year,” Sze-En says.
“Each year we’ve seen how generously our University community responds and how much our contribution adds to what Foster Hope receives from the wider community.”
Supporting Foster Hope aligns with the work and values of the Studio, Sze-En says.
“As a space dedicated to empowering young people, we care about the wellbeing of young people in our wider community, and not just the students we work with every day. Supporting Foster Hope is a natural extension of that commitment.”
Kaimahi, tauira, and the wider community are all welcome to drop off new, unwrapped gifts at the Social Impact Studio till Wednesday, 3 December, to ensure gifts are delivered to Foster Hope in time for distribution.
Late deliveries, till Friday, 5 December, can be dropped off at any of the other collection points in Dunedin: Whitcoulls – 143 George Street, Procter Auctions – 922 George Street, and Wesley Jones Law – Bracken Court, 480 Moray Place.
Staff on other campuses can support Foster Hope and The Christchurch Aunties too – by either purchasing an item and couriering it to the Otago collection point, or donating money to the charities online.
Kai forms an important part of celebrations during the holidays, and multiple groups across the Dunedin Campus are helping fill Presbyterian Support Otago’s (PSO) foodbank.
Health Sciences HR Adviser Gina Hunter says with PSO distributing about 400 food parcels a month, community support is key to keeping the initiative going.
Gina and a band of cheerful elves delivered boxes to all the Faculty of Medicine – Dunedin Departments earlier this month to help collect non-perishable goods, with the elves keeping a tally of what’s been collected.
“To make things fun, we are running this as an inter-Departmental competition. The Department with the most items donated will be treated to a free morning tea – a delicious reward for their generosity.”
Multiple teams on the Dunedin Campus are collecting non-perishables for Presbyterian Support Otago’s foodbank. Clockwise from top left, the Biomedical Research Facility team, Department of Biochemistry Administrator Ada Buathong, Department of Microbiology & Immunology Administrator Cate Lippers, and the cheerful elves from the Faculty of Medicine – Dunedin.
Faculty of Biomedical Sciences Administrator Sara Milne says their Faculty has been contributing to the PSO Christmas appeal for over a decade.
“Staff enjoy being able to give back and support the community. We’ve given each Department a different type of non-perishable to collect to ensure a variety.
“And while this is a drive that is run within our Faculty, people are welcome to drop off items at our Department receptions till 9am, Monday, 1 December.”
Like the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, the Biomedical Research Facility (BRF) has also been a long-time supporter of PSO.
BRF Head of Operations and Facilities Scott Rhodes says community contributions, whether large or small, help ensure access to essential food and personal items for those facing hardship – including our four-legged friends.
“One item that is sometimes forgotten at foodbank drives is pet food, so we make sure to include this in our collection.”
Scott encourages other teams to set up their own collections to support their local foodbanks.
“It’s as easy as putting a couple of boxes in a prominent location to act as donation collection points and then dropping them off at the foodbank, which for PSO is at 407 Moray Place, Dunedin.”
Staff can also support PSO online, through the Christmas gifting catalogue or a monetary donation.
“By providing a positive and meaningful way for colleagues to come together in support of others, holiday appeals strengthen our community connection and reinforce our shared commitment to wellbeing and collective responsibility,” Scott says.
~ Kōrero by Sandra French, Adviser, Internal Communications