Donation to bring Christmas joy
An assortment of children’s toys have been handed over to a Timaru charity.
On Monday morning Mitre 10 Mega Timaru gave $2000 worth of Christmas gifts to the town’s Salvation Army at a special presentation at the business.
Mitre 10 Mega Timaru retail manager David Ferguson said the toys had been donated to the charity by Simon Lye, the owner of the Timaru and Ashburton Mitre 10 Mega franchises. ‘‘Every year he donates toys and we always tend to give them to the Sallies,’’ Ferguson said.
‘‘It’s his way of putting something back into the community for the kids.’’
Lye is overseas at the moment so Ferguson presented the toys on his behalf. Timaru Salvation Army Lieutenant Emma Howan said it was an honour to be receiving the toys which would be gratefully accepted by children in the community.
‘‘We love when we’re able to gift toys,’’ she said. ‘‘To see the kids’ faces when they receive them too. These will be so appreciated by children who perhaps were thinking they wouldn’t get anything.’’
The donation included swing sets, slides, paddling pools, Spiderman gloves and other items.
‘‘There is such a great selection here too,’’ Howan said. Ferguson said the company had been donating toys since Mitre 10 Mega opened in Timaru seven years ago. ‘‘Simon does a similar thing in Ashburton too,’’ he said.
Howan thanked the company for helping the community during the festive, but often stressful, occasion.
‘‘We just want to say a huge thank you,’’ Howan said. ‘‘We love being able to share this with our families in the community.’’
The year had been a busy one for the Salvation Army, with an increase in demand for food parcels, she said.
‘‘We are expecting it will be just the same, if not busier, in the New Year.’’ A contract has been awarded to an Alexandra contracting company which will begin work to re-open the Oamaru Courthouse in February 2018. The contract was awarded to construction firm Breen’s Construction and it is expected the courthouse would be ready to reopen in the middle of 2018. The courthouse was closed by the Ministry of Justice in 2011 due to it being earthquake prone and unsafe. Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher said a temporary court house had been operating in the Brydone Hotel carpark. ‘‘The original courthouse is an iconic building and is an important part of the streetscape in Oamaru and forms part of the rich Victorian heritage that is unique to the town. To see it unused would have been far from ideal, so it’s great that it will be back in use next year.’’
Police notebook
Incidents reported to police include:
At 5.40am on Monday police responded to a family harm episode on Benmore St. Enquiries are continuing with both parties.
At 11.45pm on Sunday police responded to a family harm episode on Ranui Ave. A 34-year-male was served with a police safety order.
Police responded to a family harm episode on at 7.30pm on Sunday on Evans St. A 23-year-old male was arrested for assault.