Mum and daughter helping the lost

Like Old Mother Hubbard’s, this cupboard is empty.

But unlike the nursery rhyme the mum and daughter in this house are wanting food for the forgotten, those who walk the backstreets of Auckland, homeless and lost.

Danielle Bergin and mum Wendy Chattersfield of Island Child Trust in Pt England accept those who fit the "too-hard basket" elsewhere.

The tough times – winter and the economy – make their task tougher, they say.

The pair provide a firm guiding hand, accommodation, safety and, when possible, good, solid feeds.

They say there are kind people in the community who help when they can and occasionally parcels are delivered anonymously to the back door.

Work and Income in Panmure and Housing NZ support them and they get bread baked weekly by the nuns at Te Waipuna Puawai.

But often these donations fall short of the trust’s needs and now it is asking for help to fill the pantry.

"Food is not as solid a thing to sponsor as a fridge or blankets, but we seriously need help to provide nutritious meals, especially inwinter," Danielle says.

The two use smart budget-saving skills and stretch their income to the limit. Some vegetables come from their kai garden.

Danielle is very clear about one thing: Anyone could end up at their door.

"We have people from the widest range of situations imaginable," she says.

"We don’t judge them. Our aim is show them how to rebuild their lives, and get them the information to get on their feet again. We help in the process but they have to do the work."

The list of people and situations is like itemised hardship:

- Single mums with children, some of whom have been living in shopping malls

- Whole families evicted and left with only suitcases

- A son or daughter who stay home to care for ageing parents who are left penniless after their parents die

- Fathers with alcohol problems

- Transgenders with no family

- Migrants whose marriages and lives fall apart under the pressure of relocating without a support structure

- Ex-housewives who lose a spouse, by death or abandonment, only to discover they’ve been living on credit, and now have nothing

- Runaway teens who have grown older but are still as lost.

Some stay three days and some have stayed 18 weeks.

Homelessness is not about a lack of intelligence, Danielle and Wendy say.

"In each case, the circumstances are unique. Often the only thing these people share is their current need," they say.

"We spend a lot of time trying to fulfil the dreams of people who are down on their luck. Our dream is just to keep doing that."

To help Danielle and Wendy in any way call 574-5530 or 0274-811-681.

- © Fairfax NZ News