Sisters on a mission to provide much-needed school stationery to local students
The dynamic sister duo of Claudia and Florence Patel-Gaunt are well on their way to ensuring local primary school students have important school stationery in time for the start of school in 2023.
Claudia, aged 14 years and Florence, aged 13, have created their own social enterprise initiative called Project Pencil Case and have already surpassed their first goal of 100 stationery packs full of essentials such as pencils, pens, rulers, book bags and glue sticks as well as non-essentials of highlighters, scissors and colouring pens.
Already the Woodford House students have collected over 1000 stationery items and re-set their target to 200 packs which will be donated to at least three schools – Te Awa Primary, Omahu Primary and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu.
Claudia says they were inspired to collect stationery after overhearing a school principal saying how some students will turn up to school at the beginning of next year without pencils, pens and other important stationery.
“We only started in August and we’ve been overwhelmed by the support of so many people either coming forward with new items, slightly used items or donating money or gift vouchers to purchase stationery.
“Our aim is to have several pens, pencils and books and at least one of the less-essential items in every pack,” said Claudia.
As well as over 1000 stationery items, they have also received nearly $1000 in cash and vouchers to purchase new stationery, some from the Warehouse Stationery.
The sisters have now turned their focus to sewing the pencil cases and book bags that will each store over 20 stationery items.
It was going to be too expensive to buy all the items so with the help of Viv Brown and Marg Wallace, two local ladies who kindly volunteer their time to several community projects, they have designed and are now sewing together the pencil cases and book bags.
They hope to recruit some fellow Woodford House students to help make pencil cases over the final school term.
Florence hopes that Project Pencil Case continues beyond 2023, and will be an initiative that continues well past their own school days.
“We want Project Pencil Case to be sustainable so we can pass on it to other students in future years to continue the collection of stationery.”
If you would like to donate stationery, pencil case materials or money, contact Claudia and Florence via their Facebook Page or drop items to:
The Citizens Advice Bureau Napier
Ground Floor, Bower House,
18 Bower Street, Napier
Mon to Fri 9am - 4pm; Sat 9.30-10.30
Angus McMillan Concrete
402 Victoria Street, Hastings
Monday - Friday: 10am to 6pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
911 Ebbett Street, Raureka
This is a private house.
Drop offs any day.
Not too early or late please.
Look for the Re-Source sign,
no need to knock.
