Hundreds of volunteers across Hamilton New Zealand have shown their love for the people of Tonga over the last few weeks.
Clothing, shoes, food and other necessities have been donated and gathered in a coordinated “JustServe” community effort to send aid to the Friendly Islands.
DOWNLOADVolunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and friends of other faiths participated in the effort, making it a truly multi-faith community project. Several local businesses donated goods and provided transportation. Westland Construction provided the container and shipping to Tonga.
Hamilton Boys High students pitched in, one gold coin at a time, to purchase a generator that will be shipped to Tonga.
Young women wrote messages of love and support on boxes going in the container.
- Young-helper-carries-a-box-to-go-into-the-container-for-Tonga.-Hamilton,-New-Zealand.-February-2022
- Volunteers-load-clean-water-bottles-into-container-for-Tonga.-Hamilton-New-Zealand,-February-2022
- Young-woman-add-notes-of-love-and-encouragement-to-a-box-headed-for-Tonga.-Hamilton,-New-Zealand,-February-2022
- Donated-materials-ready-to-be-loaded-into-container-in-Hamilton-bound-for-Tonga.-New-Zealand,-February-2022.
- Volunteers-help-load-donated-supplies-into-the-container-for-Tonga.-Hamilton,-New-Zealand,-February-2022
- People-from-many-organizations-in-Hamilton-helped-to-load-relief-supplies-for-Tonga.-New-Zealand,-February-2022
- Crates-and-boxes-were-loaded-into-the-container-and-many-were-covered-in-messages-from-loved-ones-to-recipients-in-Tonga.-New-Zealand,-February-2022
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Among the volunteers were several people of Tongan heritage, now living in New Zealand, as well as Tongan missionaries. For them, the community project was especially meaningful.
One woman, whose husband is managing the construction of the Neiafu Tonga Temple, slipped a message in the container, for her husband. They have not seen each other since June last year.
The container will leave for Tonga on Tuesday 22 February.