Latest news
Want to join our team?
We are always on the look out for superstars to join our community, from in-person help at our New Brighton Hub, to drop off and collection points. Please email us today if you'd like to be a part of our fantastic team and make a real difference to families in Canterbury.
Jess@itav.org.nz
Raffle winner
The 'Give a helping hand' campaign was our first major fundraiser - and thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket - we managed to raise much needed funds to continue our journey of helping local families. These lucky ticket holders won on the rafffle:
Prize 1 - ticket 2311 Lyslie, Prize 2 - ticket 0059 Tracey, Prize 3 - ticket 1012 Michelle, Prize 4 - ticket 0097 George, Prize 5 - ticket 0348 Lindley, Prize 6 - ticket 1646 Angela, Prize 7 - ticket 0043 Ange, Prize 8 - ticket 1398 Gill, Prize 9 - ticket 0989 Skye, Prize 10 - ticket 0131 Maddie, Prize 11 - ticket 1420 J&C, Prize 12 - ticket 0226 R Whight, Prize 13 - ticket 0532 Paula, Prize 14 - ticket 2294 Julie, Prize 15 - ticket 0524 Gus, Prize 16 - ticket 2362 Lyslie, Prize 17 - ticket 0443 S Orchard, Prize 18 - ticket 2268 Laura, Prize 19 - ticket 0341 Gabrielle, Prize 20 - ticket 1666 Shontelle.
Kia Ora Village!!
We are so excited to be running our first ever Give a Helping Hand week on the 22nd - 28th May and we would love everyone to get involved! All money raised during this week goes back into help the families of Canterbury who are struggling.
Ways you can get involved in our Give a Helping Hand week are:
- Become a match funder
- Hold a donation drive at your work, school, kindy/preschool or get your friends together.
- Attend our sewing bee
- Buy a raffle ticket during the week.
- Share Share Share our posts!
Pop us a message, or email info@itav.org.nz to get more information.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us in the lead up to this massive week!!
You can donate to our campaign here.
The ITAV Sewing Bee is on now! A group of ladies have been sharing their talents to help us make the most t-shirts and pants we can in 7.5 hours.
Did you know - We have Moved!
In Early November, thanks to our generous partners and the amazing Deb, we moved out of the garage and into the Bank! We will officially open late Feb 2022!
Our updated donations list
It's been a while!!
It has been a while since we post and a lot has changed. We have had 2 member of our board step down. Emma Kennedy and Diane Hayes. We would like to say a huge Thank you to them for the time they have given over the past 4 years. We are lucky to have Diane staying on as a volunteer for us so you will still see her around.
We would also like to say a huge welcome to Deb Clarke who has been one of our volunteers for just about 3 years now, she has joined the board of advisors and is stepping into the role of Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Jess and Dani have been working hard behind the sense on baby and toddler bundles with over 600 applications this year coming in as well as applying for funding, doing fundraisers and much more.
If you are interested in being a part of the team please do email us on info@itav.org.nz and Deb will be in touch
11th July 2021
Here at ITAV we are honoured that families trust us to provide them with a little extra help - free of judgement.
July has been a cold month so far, and families are reaching our for help - sadly our size 5 boys cupboard is bare.
ITAV and You can help these families this winter, check out our how you can help page, or donating to our charity page!
Collab time!! 7th July 2021
We don't get many photos together but this is me (Dani, Baby Bundle Manager) and Jess our Toddler Bundle Manager!
Last week we were able to have a great catch up with Barbara from @kiwi_family_trust_nz who is part of one of our wonderful agencies we work with who provide us with handmade warm blankets, jerseys and singlets for our families in need.
Thank you Barbara and her wonderful team of knitters from across Canterbury, we couldn't do what we do without people like you behind us supporting our families in need.
5th July 2021
In less than 6 months we have had more applications than the total bundles made in 2019 + 2020!
Our service really helps families and we are so privileged to be a part of the solution - not just relieving financial strain, but being a sustainable solution to help those that just need a little extra help.
At itav we don't receive donations like this very often, so this is extra special. As consumables are always so hard for us to come by.
A huge thank you for these items we are so grateful.
From the Itav team
3rd July 2021
Thursday 24th June 2021
Please join us in Thanking our wonderful Deb who is a amazing all rounder at It Takes a Village Hub (NZ). We couldn't do what we do in the community without Deb supporting us.
Here is what Deb has to say about volunteering with us:
Hi Everyone
I have been volunteering for ITAV now for about 15 months.
I’m a Mum of 5 adult children ranging from 31 - 21 Two girls and three boys!!
Joining the ITAV Admin team was my way of giving back to the community.
I had been off work for nearly two years with a wrist injury, that required two lots of surgery.
It was after the second round of surgery that I went looking for an organisation to support.
I loved everything about what ITAV is about, the community, people helping and supporting each other.
There comes a time in everyone’s life where sometimes you needing a helping hand to get through life’s difficult times.
I had been going through one of those difficult times when I found ITAV.
I have often been involved with volunteering over the years whilst raising my kids, even when I have been working.
The friendships I have built up 30 years ago I still have today.
I have gained so many friendships, self confidence, assertiveness, fantastic communication skills, administration, time management skills. These have helped immensely in my day to day life.
I love the direction in which ITAV is going and working with young families and providing a wrap around service to help families in need.
I am actively involved in the admin side of both North and Canterbury pages and behind the scenes with Bundles Team, Wanted Team, and as a dropoff point and wherever I am needed.
Wednesday 23rd June 2021
As most of you know this week is National volunteer week we have been posting everyday to recognise some of our talented volunteers at It Takes a Village Hub (NZ) and our next volunteer we would like to recognise is our outstanding Wendy!
Many of you will see Wendy on our Pay it forward groups helping make sure it all runs smoothly. Wendy is more than just a volunteer she is truly part of the ITAV family she has been with us over 3 years now!!!
Here is what Wendy has to say about volunteering with us:
A friend got me to join ITAV, and what I found was an amazing group, very helpful, Took me a bit to volunteer, but been here a long time now and enjoy the interaction and heartfelt giving and help of all our beautiful villagers.
Please join us in Thanking Wendy for all the hard work she has put into the Canterbury community. We couldn't do what we do without you.
From the ITAV Board (Dani, Diane, Emma & Jess)
Tuesday 22nd June 2021
We would like to say a huge Thank you to everyone who has donated to us over the past few weeks you guys are super stars, have had our busiest month on record for both bundles teams and we couldn't do what we do without you. This includes other community agencies and business's such as Canterbury Plunket and Make Give Live
If you would like to donate please head over to www.itav.org.nz for our list of items we accept or pop us a message as well.
Thank you everyone.
The Bundles Team
#ittakesavillage #donations #love #thankful #bundles #canterburynz #plunket #makegivelive
Tuesday 22nd June 2021
Morena Village!!
Our second shout to this week to our amazing volunteers goes to our wonderful Eva who is an all rounder over our many teams and has been with us for the past 2 years!
Here is what Eva has to say about volunteering for It Takes a Village Hub (NZ):
"I volunteer with ITAV because it’s such a great group of people and admins. When I came to New Zealand two and a half years ago I was surprised and stunned by the help I received myself by some of our generous members. I knew that I wanted to give back and have happily volunteered with ITAV since.
It really does take a village and if everybody helps with what they can, everyone in the community is better off and feeling happier.
I believe it really does make a difference to help one another.
Knowing that our bundles are helping so many families makes me proud as well. As a mom myself I know how hard it can be sometimes to not only provide the essentials but also to be able to have a safe place to ask for things when in need is so valuable.
It’s about the people. And it’s the community spirit that I love about ITAV."
Thanks Eva for your lovely words and for all the time you give to the Canterbury community through It Takes a Village Hub (NZ)
Monday 21st June 2021
National Volunteer Week Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu
Meet Pam an amazing volunteer who makes sure your pay it forward posts get approved and our groups keeping running smoothly, which have over 20,000 people combined on them.
"Hi everyone my name is Pamela.
I’ve been a volunteer for ITAV for the past 2 years. I chose to do this to help others and to give back where I can to people who need a little extra help.
To see the joy on people’s faces when they know they can come to a safe place for help is just amazing."
Thank you Pamela for all your time and dedication you have given It Takes a Village Hub over the past 2 years, we couldn't do what we do without you.
The ITAV Board
Emma, Jess, Diane, & Dani
Sunday 20th June 2021
Did you know that today kicks off the start of national volunteer week here in New Zealand?
These are some of our lovely board members at our monthly board meeting minus our super star Emma who couldn't make it today.
At It Takes a Village Hub (NZ) we are solely volunteer run including all board members. This week we will recognising all the hard work our volunteers put into the community through It Takes a Village Hub (NZ).
Please join us in thanking all our volunteers this week by commenting or showing them some love on our posts.
If you hear one of our volunteers stories and think you would like to be a part of what It Takes a Village Hub (NZ) is all about please pop us a message and we will get in touch.
A huge Thank you to everyone in the past year that has volunteered for us one way or another we truly appreciate you.
From the ITAV Board ( Diane, Jess, Dani & Emma)
Tuesday June 15th 2021
BestStart Educare Cashmere's Whanau have been great supports of us for a while now and have blown us away today with their beautiful donations.
Thank you for being #inthistogether with us, we couldn't help the families in need without the village we have around us.
The Bundles Team
#ittakesavillage #babybundles #toddlerbundles #beststarteducare #donations #love #help #thankful
Monday 14th June 2021
This has taken several hours today - with a 4 year old little helper singing “stinky socks, stinky socks” all the way through!
4 hours of soaking, washed, dried, paired and sorted into sizes!
Sunday 13th June 2021
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/it-takes-a-village-hub-permanent-location
It Takes A Village....
We are a Canterbury based charity, providing free baby and toddler bundles to families that need a little extra help, there is no means testing involved, we just try to help where we can.
Over the past 3 years we have been able to do this as part of our day to day lives, from the comfort of our homes, however during the past 12 months, the need has grown significantly, and whilst we raise the profile of our programme, we are also contacting local NZ businesses for donations. Because we can't pick and chose our donations, we have to take what we can, this means we may have heaps of size 1, but no size 00, or 3.
This year we have come to realise that its no longer practical or safe to store the donations of clothing, shoes, nappies, bibs, socks, wipes, hairbrushes, toys, books, playmats and all of the other essential items that we provide in these bundles, we need a dedicated space (plus our partners would like to park their cars in the garage!)
We are seeking funds to help us house, prepare the bundles, secure and store those valuable company donations (like the 180 hairbrushes that were kindly donated by Mita!!!) until we distribute them to families in need.
If you have a little one, you know just how much these type of bundles can help, 7 days worth of clothing and all of the other items that a child or baby needs are so valuable to the parents, a baby bath, a cot, a ride on toy - can make life so much easier, but they are expensive, especially if you have just found yourself in financial hardship.
The members of our Facebook groups are happy to donate these items to avoid the waste to landfill, and we are proud and honoured to be able to help families, we just need to be able to do this without putting our team at risk. We would love your support!
About us
We are a Canterbury based, registered Charity. We provide free Baby and Toddler bundles to families that need a little extra help - for whatever reason. This year we are aiming to raise funds for a permanent location and its running costs.
Use of funds
The use of all funds raised will be to put towards the running and upkeep of a secure location for the storage and distribution of our free Baby and Toddler bundles.
Tuesday 25th May 2021
Did you see us in your local paper? Missed it? Click on the link to view it...
