Grab and go bags help kids cope with cyclone

• Author: Maddisyn Jeffares
• Published date: 24 May 2023
• Publication title: Hastings Leader, The

Hena Thorn and Jenna Mabey decided to start up the Hawke’s Bay Kids Grab & Go Bags drive, with the main mission being to equip flood-affected and underprivileged children with emergency “grab and go bags” to provide a sense of comfort as well as feel prepared for future weather events

A “grab and go” bag is a small backpack with essential items you can easily grab if you’re evacuated from your home due to an emergency, such as an extreme weather event like the cyclone, said Thorn.

“Hawke’s Bay Kids Grab & Go Bags was started by two mothers who were concerned for the mental health of our children and their anxiety around weather changes since the cyclone.”

Thorn said the limited education on how to be prepared as well as the cost involved to do so was a big push for her and Mabey to start the drive.

The Kids Grab & Go Bags donation drive is a coordinated effort to have every item including the bag itself donated so there is no cost barrier involved to the families.

So far Thorn and Mabey have fulfilled 200 bags ordered from families, kohanga reo and community groups through both product and cash donations.

“Our goal is 1000 bags to Hawke’s Bay children over the next six weeks, or as we are able around fulltime work and family commitments,”...