MEDIA RELEASE
Old coins and notes (Kiwi or foreign) are a money spinner for charity
Old pennies, sixpences, threepenny bits, francs, dollars, rupees, etc. are just some of the currencies donated by the public to Heads Up for Kids (HU4K)in the last five years.
The scheme is a nationwide Lions Clubs of New Zealand project in which people can donate old currency to be delivered to ReseneColorshops anywhere in the country for onward despatch to the HU4K Counting House in Wellington, for free, by Fastway Couriers. Resene and Fastway have been HU4K sponsors since the beginning of this project.
‘Among the currencies handed over have been pennies from the early 1900s, American and Australian currency and lots of interesting coins with holes in them from Europe’’, says ………………………………………..
of ……………………………………. Lions Club. “The money, once converted or melted down, then goes towards assistingyoung Kiwis to attend various courses to help them cope with life. To name a few … Hillary Outdoors, Spirit of Adventure, Discovery for Teens”.
Each applicant needs to be recommended by a Lions Club, their school, their parent or guardian and of course a paragraph or two from themselves. These applications then get sent to the HU4K Trustees for approval. It is recommended that plenty of time be given for the decision to support them be made.
Once the Kiwi Kid is accepted then he or she automatically becomes a HU4K ambassador and we have dozens and dozens of kiwi kids out there helping the HU4K cause.
Over 150 kids have been helped during the past five years and all the information can be found on HU4K website, including application forms, etc. Go to ‘lionsclubs.org.nz/old money’ and all will be revealed.
Project Manager, Lion Pam Hawkins says “the great thing about this project is that it’s not actually taking any money away from other charities because its money that people would not be using. Over 20,000 tonne of coins and thousands upon thousands of banknotes have so far brought in nearly $500,000. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand estimates that there is still millions ofdollars’ worth of old coins and banknotes out there unaccounted for!”
A Lions Club near you will be able to give you all the information you require and are waiting for your call.
May 2015