UPDATE: As at 4pm Monday 5 Oct, $ 26,133 has been pledged and a container or items is already on it's way over! See the photos here and the fundraising team on One News
Christchurch’s community access radio station Plains FM 96.9 geared up to help their many Samoan broadcasters raise funds for stricken family and friends in Samoa. On Friday 2nd October much of the day’s broadcast focused on bringing news, comfort and a point of community contact for local Samoans and fellow Tongan families.
“We wanted our broadcasters to provide as much information in the Samoan language as possible. We felt we could be of most assistance to our local Samoan community by donating extra airtime so our broadcasters can link in with their contacts from radio stations in Samoa, and connect with grieving families here” says station manager, Nicki Reece.
Plains FM’s broadcasters are all volunteers and contribute hundreds of hours of their own time to provide news and information each year on air.
“All our broadcasters and staff, whatever their nationality, are right behind the local Samoan community in their efforts to help. It’s going to be a long, hard road ahead for many families and our hearts go out to them all.”
Saturday 3 Oct fundraising broadcast:
7pm - 9:30pm
How You Can Help
Saturday night you can call (03) 340 0969 to make a pledge which can be deposited at the Tangata Atumotu Trust, 2/384 Worchester Street, Stanmore; or dropped into Plains FM, corner of Madras and St. Asaph Streets.
New Zealand aid agencies are also calling for donations to help with relief efforts.
- Oxfam emergency appeal: www.oxfam.org.nz
- The New Zealand Red Cross appeal: www.redcross.org.nz
- Rotary NZ appeal: Westpac bank account 03 1702 0192208 02
- ANZ (NZ) Samoa Appeal Fund: Donations can be made at any ANZ branch, to account number 01 1839 0143546 00