Hamish Allardice on Lambton Quay this morning Volunteers have been out pounding streets across the country, shaking buckets in the annual World AIDS Day appeal. Collections are taking place in Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Wellington and Christchurch, while there is also a virtual collection online at www.gettingtozero.org.nz The money is split between the New Zealand AIDS Foundation’s support services and the Wellness Fund. In Wellington volunteers were out from 7AM and highly visible at the Railway Station and along Lambton Quay, where they were draped with red ribbons and holding giant ribbons with small red ribbons pinned to them. The reaction on the busy streets and at the station was positive from passers-by, with many pausing to donate on their way to work. Donations to HIV prevention and support services are becoming more and more important to the work of the NZ AIDS Foundation and other support groups says NZAF Executive Director Shaun Robinson. "With government spending tight due to the recession we are all having to do more work on what is essentially less money," he says. "More than ever fundraising through the gay communities is going to play an important part in funding the non-core but still vital work we have to do."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 30th November 2012 - 9:54am