By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
St Vincent de Paul organisation in New Zealand are sending a container load of clothing, household utensils and medical goods to their sister organisation in Tonga.
The Tonga branch is being supported to open its first ever shop in the Kingdom in September.
Last week, St Vincent de Paul in Porirua sent 41 banana boxes of goods to Auckland to be shipped to Tonga along with donations from other chapters around the country.
St Vincent de Paul twinning coordinator Arthur Schultz says the Tonga shop initiative is the first of its kind for St Vincent de Paul and is an integral part of a three-year strategic plan to help them with their work and support for families in need in the kingdom.
Mr Schultz says they are also sending pallets of medical equipment to support their sister organisation in Samoa.
He spoke with RNZ Pacific reporter Grace Fiavaai Grace who began by asking how they decide what to send to the islands.
