The St John Marlborough Area Committee has undertaken a winter warmer initiative to help provide some essential winter items to those in need in the community. 

Scott Cresswell, St John Marlborough Area Committee Chair, says the initial need was identified by St John ambulance officers who are often in homes dealing with respiratory and winter illness issues relating to cold, damp homes.   

“Many of these families can’t access essentials such as warm blankets and bedding. 

“With support from local businesses and through donations received in our St John Retail Store, we have gathered up blankets, sheets, hot water bottles, draft stoppers and knitted items. 

“The Area Committee has already been able to donate to a local school to distribute to families who have been struggling to get the children back into the school environment due to ongoing illness.”  

Another donation went out to an organisation that sees families daily in and out of the school environment, where often lack of warmth in the home is identified as a contributing factor to several difficulties families face. 

“There is an onsite supply so that ambulance officers can grab supplies and gift them out to families in need when they’re attending incidents. This just highlights the care and empathy that our ambulance officers have towards the wellbeing of their community.” 

The St John Marlborough Area Committee will be continuing to build stocks through donations so that this initiative can continue each winter. Donations can be dropped at the St John Retail Store (3/11 Boyce Street, Springlands, Blenheim 7201). For more information please phone 03 5780 797. 

St John Marlborough continues requests for donations of: