Te Puke volunteer honoured for years of community service
A Te Puke woman who has spent years helping local families, fundraising for sport and supporting community events has been recognised as the town’s Volunteer Star Award winner.
Sarah Nelson received the Te Puke Volunteer Star Award at a National Volunteer Week celebration held at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday 18th June, attended by about 70 volunteers and community leaders from across the district.
The event, organised by Volunteering Services and supported by COLAB, EPIC Te Puke and The Hub, celebrated the contribution volunteers make to the community and highlighted the organisations that rely on their support.
Sarah was nominated by Te Puke Gymsport general manager Erin McKenna, who praised her commitment over the past eight years.
“Sarah has been a part of our club for the last eight years, and during that time she has volunteered in almost every capacity,” Erin says.
For the past five years, Sarah has led the club’s fundraising team, helping raise between $10,000 and $15,000 annually. Erin says those efforts have helped provide equipment, opportunities, and experiences that would not otherwise have been possible for members.
Alongside fundraising, Sarah has organised community events for children and families and is known for stepping forward whenever help is needed.
“Her kindness, caring nature and reliability make her an incredibly important part of our club community,” Erin says.
Volunteers contribute more than 231 million hours of formal volunteering across New Zealand each year, with community organisations heavily reliant on such support.
The evening also showcased the breadth of volunteer activity in Te Puke, with representatives from neighbourhood groups, emergency management teams, sporting organisations, arts groups, the Lions Club and community trusts sharing stories of local service.
Western Bay of Plenty emergency management staff acknowledged volunteers who helped respond when residents were evacuated following a house slip at Welcome Bay earlier this year, while community organisations highlighted thousands of volunteer hours spent supporting various local projects and events.
Te Puke Community Board chair Dale Snell thanked volunteers for helping create a connected, safe and thriving community.
“Every effort that every volunteer makes in Te Puke goes towards creating that,” Dale says.
Volunteering Services encourages community groups needing support to get in touch, noting that volunteers remain the backbone of many local organisations.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities across the Bay of Plenty, visit the Volunteering Services website www.volunteeringservices.org.nz or call 07 987 0920.
