Businesses contribute

Local businesses are reaching out to cyclone victims, hosting fundraisers, shuttling work teams to Aitutaki and doing whatever they can to help.

Yesterday, CITC hosted a sausage sizzle at Foodland that raised $750 for the cyclone relief effort.

CITC donated bread, sausages, tomato sauce, and staff to do the cooking. Funds will go toward assembling a package of food and supplies to be transported to Aitutaki by the Red Cross next week.

Westpac, for its part, will send representatives from its management team to Aitutaki early next week to support local bank staff.

“We know our customers’ financial circumstances will be affected and we encourage customers that need assistance to contact their local Westpac branch or relationship manager as soon as possible to discuss how we can help,” general manager Rob Buick said.

“Our thoughts are with everybody affected by this tragedy.”