Community groups and volunteers were officially acknowledged at the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board Volunteer Awards, held recently at the Ōtāhuhu Town Hall Community Centre. Family, friends and those who put forward nominations were all in attendance.
Each of the nominees had a story to tell, covering a wide range of voluntary services, including working with troubled youth, sports, community safety and health, charity banks, education initiatives, and environmental advocacy.
Age is no barrier, as one nominee showed. Tatiana Strickland-Papua has volunteered at the Māngere Community House since she was 14. From cleaning and cooking to helping with child-minding during school holidays, she has selflessly served her community.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board Chair Lemauga Lydia Sosene says the time and resources volunteers and groups put in to help others is inspiring and the awards ceremony shows appreciation for all the hard work.
“These people are making a difference in our communities, motivating and mentoring our young people, caring for our area, helping those less fortunate,” she says.
