Creative Junction Magazine October 20th | Page 8

PHOTO CREDIT: Dawson Design ABOVE: plans for the Kind Hands Respite Care Cottage LEFT: Sharlene gets stuck in to gardening around the existing cottage on their Morningside property Respite Care Facility to open by Mid-2018 A respite facility for pre-schoolers is due to open in Whangarei by April next year. Plans for the Kind Hands Respite Care Cottage are underway, with a move to start building in Morningside this summer. Project co-ordinator Sharlene Clements, says raising around $500,000 for the project is a big ask- and they have still got a long way to go. “But if we don’t fund it, we’ll go to the bank and get a loan or something.” The Whangarei nurse is desperate to provide a facility for children who have a disability, are medically fragile and/or technically dependent. As an outreach nurse, she saw a need for the facility for children aged under 6 in Whangarei. “We really need a halfway house between them being discharged from hospital and coming home,” she says. Kind Hands will provide warm rooms, safe sleeping equipment and a fully equiped relaxing lounge. Trained nurses and caregivers will be on-site 24/7, and meals will be provided according to dietary requirements. Sharlene has her sights set on fundraising over the coming months. The next event is a quiz night on November 4. For more information visit www. kindhands.co.nz.