We were thrilled to attend the launch of Orange Sky New Zealand’s newest van on the 29th of November at the Glenview Community Centre.
Orange Sky’s mission is to support more of the 41,600 Kiwis experiencing homelessness and hardship across Aotearoa through the provision of free laundry services, warm showers, and genuine conversations with the dedicated Orange Sky New Zealand volunteers. Orange Sky began its operation in Australia before looking across the ditch and now runs services in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with the Hamilton service beginning in November of this year.
Recent research commissioned by Orange Sky highlighted the vulnerability of many Kiwis in 2021 with more than one in five having personally experienced homelessness and half of New Zealander’s struggling to make ends meet at least once in a year, with one in five struggling to make ends meet every week.
Orange Sky aims to support these Kiwis doing it tough through positive connections with the friends they support as well as raising awareness about homelessness within the community.
They were delighted with the level of support and engagement the Hamilton community organisations provided during their initial consultation process, and now work in with many of these organisations who are already doing superb work in the community, to deliver the Orange Sky services.
The DV Bryant Trust is honoured to be a part of this awesome initiative, in recognition of the support of the Trust the new van – which joins the four already operating in Aotearoa – was formally named “Dan the Van” at the opening ceremony. A tribute to the founder of the DV Bryant Trust, Dan Bryant.
With the lofty aim of providing ten sessions throughout the week to their friends across Hamilton, Orange Sky is looking for some more volunteers who can help people make a positive connection through genuine and non-judgemental conversation alongside the laundry and shower service. Shifts are currently happening throughout the week in collaboration with these great community organisations:
- Te Whanau Putahi Community Centre; Fairfield
- Salvation Army Hamilton Central
- Western Community Centre; Nawton
- ood News Community Centre; Nawton
- Glenview Community Centre; Glenview
- Enderley Community Centre; Enderley
- Melville Community House; Bader
And at the Hamilton Lake, Innes Common.
If you think this amazing work is something you would like to be involved in, click here to find out some more information and apply.
If you would like to make a donation to support Orange Sky’s life changing work within the community, click here.
