MCINDOE Group owner Jim McIndoe with Te Kūiti local Cecil Hickman and some of the donated silage. PHOTO SUPPLIED
A WAITOMO-based donation drive for farmers and animals affected by Cyclone Gabrielle has gathered huge support from the community just days after it was announced.
Locals have dribbled into McIndoe Group’s Te Kūiti store to contribute to the haul and several businesses have jumped on board with the initiative – including the loan of a new tractor for the cause.
McIndoe Group owner Jim McIndoe said he went home one night and decided he needed to do something to help those affected by the cyclone, particularly in Hawke’s Bay.
He discussed it with his wife, Debbie, and they were inspired by the desire to support the animals.
“So, then I talked to Mike and John Ramsey from Crusader Meats, and they got on board straight away.
“They’ve got sheep over [in Hawke’s Bay] who they want to support.
“And for us, it’s just doing something for someone else.”
The people at King Country Vets have put their hands up to coordinate farmers in their network who want to contribute.
Even shearing legend and local farmer Sir David Fagan has become involved.
“We were all thinking about what we could do. When Jim rang, we were on board straight away.”
David is providing a place to store any silage donated by farmers.
Anyone is welcome to contribute to the donation drive and can do so by dropping into McIndoe Group on Waitete Rd, Te Kūiti with small goods or by phoning Debbie on 0273 50 60 68 to coordinate a silage donation.
There is no capacity for fresh or frozen donations, nor any clothing items.
Jim and David are prepared for this to be an effort that continues for some time.
“They need a lot of support over there,” Jim said.
“Those animals, they don’t need to be just fed for a weekend, they’re going to need feed for months.”
David thought with many low-lying pastures absolutely done for in the floods that affected the region, it would take months to get it seeded again.
“It’s going to be an incredibly long winter without feed.”
Jim plans to put his own resources into getting the donations over to Hawke’s Bay and has Steven Pari from Piopio on board to help with the trucking, too. When speaking to King Country News on Tuesday morning, Jim said he had others to approach for help.
The first convoy leaves tomorrow.
And when the trucks arrive in Hawke’s Bay, he’s got use of a new tractor on loan from Waikato Tractors.
“Jim’s got independent unloading over there, not having to hassle any other people on the ground, which is amazing really.”
