Crying Mum leads to Vinnies rugby league help

SVDP Auckland West area president Paula Betham said she saw a woman crying at league training earlier this year.

Asked if she was OK, the mother said league training had kept her son off the streets where he was hanging out with boys she didn’t like, but the family couldn’t afford to keep him in the team.

The Marist Saints team was already fundraising to help seven team members.

Auckland West SVDP decided to sponsor the team’s gear, fees, and also did a drive for boots for those who needed them.

Up to eight children have been picked up each weekend by Mrs Bentham’s daughter because petrol costs are also an issue.

“By sponsoring, it not only saved the dignity of the families we wanted to help, but the kids feel like a family. They love it. The kids use their bags for school and their training gear (t-shirt and shorts) and hoodies are worn everywhere,” Mrs Bentham said.

“Our logo is on all the gear and they proudly wear it.”

Part of the deal was for the children to do an act of kindness, and one of the activities was cleaning up a rest home. The boys said they also wanted to do a project where they could sing for the elderly, so that was being planned too.

Mrs Bentham said the exposure in Auckland had received great feedback and generated lots of enquiries. “So far, we have six new members, four associate members and two new shop volunteers.”

FULL STORY

Society of St Vincent de Paul NZ e-newsletter 37 (SVDP NZ e-newsletter)