This winter, Visionwest turned their Matariki celebration into three days of community connection in Glen Eden, reaching hundreds of families across The West.
Winter puts pressure on households, and the event was built to meet that head on. A total of 338 families received kai kits and winter warmer packs, supporting 647 children and 81 seniors. Every child took home a brand new pair of pyjamas. Every family received a warm blanket.
The scale of what moved through the event was remarkable. Around 60 volunteers helped distribute more than 5 tonnes of fresh produce and food, including 1.5 tonnes of pumpkin, a tonne of kūmara, 500kg each of potatoes, onions and apples, 800 loaves of bread, and 600 pieces of fried bread.
The community turned up in force too! Glen Eden Intermediate contributed student volunteers and donated goods. Woodlands Park Primary, Titirangi Primary and Fruitvale School rallied their communities for winter warmer items. Kaurilands School made an extraordinary contribution, donating more than 400 boxes of cereal to help stock kai packs.
Alongside the practical support, there was celebration. A community hāngī. Performances from the Matua Pasefika Te Taumata crew. Singing from the tamariki of Eden Cottage. Community partners MPHS Trust and EcoMatters ran environmental activities that got tamariki thinking about caring for their local environment.
For the Visionwest team, the moments that stuck were the smallest ones.
“Seeing kids choosing a new pair of pyjamas from the shelves was just beautiful,” the team shared. “We had whānau in tears as they were overwhelmed with the kai kits and the winter warmers.”
That is what Matariki is for. Coming together, caring for one another, and looking to the future with hope.
The Trusts supported this event through a crew of volunteers and funding from the 2026 Your West Support Fund.
Learn more about Visionwest at visionwest.org.nz or follow them on Facebook.
If you or your organisation could use support from The Trusts, find out how to apply at thetrusts.co.nz/our-funds.
