We need 3,830 more paws for effect!

We need 3,830 more paws for effect!

With only a month to go, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) needs more paws on the pavement for the 2004 Guide Dog Appeal (2 – 4 April).

“Currently we have 1,420 volunteers who have committed to collecting for us nationally,” says Jeanette Manson, Divisional Manager Fundraising, “but we still need 3,830 more volunteers to ring in and offer their ‘paws for effect’!”

Ms Manson says that without government support, one of the ways the RNZFB covers their costs is through the money raised during the Guide Dog Appeal and volunteers are the most important element in the appeal.

“Without these volunteers out every Guide Dog Appeal collecting on the streets, providing guide dogs for our blind and vision-impaired members would be an impossible task.

“Many people don’t realise that it costs $22,500 to breed, raise, train and match a guide dog to a blind or vision impaired New Zealander and the demand for guide dogs is growing,” says Ms Manson.

The RNZFB hopes to see more volunteers out and about on the streets throughout the country collecting donations for an appeal that is hoping to raise more than $800,000.

Ms Manson says, “We challenge all New Zealanders to ‘put their best paws forward’, get behind this fantastic cause and help rattle collection buckets!”

Currently, in each region we need:

Auckland/Northland, 1,270; Waikato, 100; Bay of Plenty, 340; Hawkes Bay , 150; Wellington/Taranaki, 750; Nelson, 190; Canterbury/West Coast, 750; Otago/Southland, 280.

Phone 0800 DOG DAY (0800 364 329) if you can help and you will be connected with your nearest RNZFB regional fundraising manager, or register online at www.rnzfb.org.nz.

Money raised from the appeal will help fund guide dogs and other essential services provided by the RNZFB, so we can continue to empower the lives of blind and vision-impaired New Zealanders.

© Scoop Media