It’s not easy to perform at your best when you’ve had a poor night’s sleep. For many whānau in our community, cold, damp sleeping conditions are an everyday challenge. Give a Kid a Blanket (GaKaB) is on a mission to do something about it, providing warm bedding, pyjamas, beanies and socks to vulnerable families across West Auckland.
‘We aim to bring kindness, dignity and practical relief to whānau struggling with poverty and hardship,’ says GaKaB Director Bernie Harfleet. He adds that by providing high-quality new bedding essentials, the registered charity addresses an immediate practical need while supporting better health and wellbeing.
Bernie stresses just how important warm bedding is to our wellbeing. Cold, damp homes can contribute to respiratory illnesses and worsening asthma, and make people more susceptible to colds and flu. Feeling cold during the night can also disrupt sleep, affecting mental wellbeing and making it harder to work, study and cope with everyday life.
‘Healthier tamariki attend school more consistently and are better able to concentrate, which supports improved educational outcomes,’ advises Bernie. Well-rested adults are also more likely to maintain regular employment and are better able to deal with life’s challenges.
Families are referred to GaKaB by health and social service providers, including the police, Plunket, refuge workers, public health nurses and social workers. Bernie says demand continues to grow. GaKaB supported 5,583 people during its 2026 winter campaign, compared with 4,619 in 2025 – an increase of 5% in just one year.
GaKaB received $20,000 from the Your West Support Fund to help deliver Winter Warmth 2026 and provide essential blankets and bedding items to families across The West. ‘Without the funding, we would not be able to meet the demand. It’s made all the difference,’ says Bernie.
However, GaKaB’s vital work doesn’t stop once the weather warms up. The charity continues to distribute bedding to vulnerable whānau throughout the year, especially those fleeing family harm and often leaving with only a few basic possessions.
That year-round support extends beyond blankets. GaKaB also helps provide food to West Auckland families, including a monthly Feed the Homeless meal and Potluck Communal Kai community meal in Rānui.
Bernie and the team will soon launch Operation Kindness 2026. The annual Christmas appeal aims to spread some festive joy, with families in need receiving packages of kai, toiletries, cleaning products and gifts. ‘It’s an important reminder that the community cares,’ says Bernie.
Learn more about Give a Kid a Blanket at giveakidablanket.co.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.
