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A temporary donation centre has been set up following the suspected arson of the Takanini distribution centre of Tōtara Hospice.
Tōtara Hospice chief executive Tina McCafferty got a call just after two in the morning earlier this week, saying that the police and fire service were at the Takanini store.
There had been extensive fire damage to the distribution centre on Great South Road.
“They closed off the road, there were a number of trucks, 28 firemen, I think. It was extensive, and when it came down to it, the police and fire investigators treated it as suspicious and arrested someone.
“The shop that sits at the front didn’t burn down, but it’s been damaged from smoke and odour. There is nothing left of the distribution centre,” says McCafferty.
At the time of the fire, no staff or volunteers were on site, and no one was hurt.
A temporary donation centre is now open at 42A Ben Lomond Crescent, Pakuranga Heights.
Tōtara Hospice welcomes any donations of good-quality clothing and homeware to help replenish what was lost and continue its vital work in the community.
Furniture donations are also being accepted, and collection can be arranged by calling 09 297 7550.
“We’re lucky in the fact that we’ve got a resilient staff who are really committed to the work of the hospice. They were devastated that such an important part of our organisation has literally ‘gone up in smoke’. They were upset that it could happen, and that was made worse by the fact that someone could do that.
“The staff, including the volunteers, understand how important the work in the shops is, and in keeping the doors of care open. So, they were worried about how it would affect the organisation and our ability to keep caring for people.”
The shop may be closed for several months depending on the outcome of an investigation led by insurers and the chief fire investigators, she says. In terms of safety, the site may be deemed uninhabitable, requiring the hospice to move to another site in Takanini or Papakura.
“The community have really connected to the hospice, and firstly they wanted to know if anyone was hurt. The next thing the community asked was ‘What can we do to help?’”
“We’ve had so many phone calls, texts, letters and emails. They’ve asked us if they have items to donate, would that be helpful, and of course, we’ve said yes.”
Times Media (Franklin Times and Eastern Times) will be donating $1000 to Hospice and owner Bo Burns is urging all local businesses to please match our donation to help.
“If we had 300 businesses donate $1000 each, this will go a long way for our much-loved Tōtara Hospice.”
In the meantime, people can visit stores in Manurewa, Howick, and Botany, McCafferty says.
“People have just been fantastic. Our retail stores need to make over $1.5 million per year to ensure our hospice care keeps happening, because the contracts that we get from the government by no means cover the costs of providing that care. We are almost a $15 million cost business, and the shops are an important part of that.”
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111, and if you would like to donate, visit the hospice’s website https://hospice.co.nz/simple-ways-to-give/.
