Many chip in to help family out

Wanting to help Wendi Raumati with firewood after her winter supply was stolen from her Dunedin...
Wanting to help Wendi Raumati with firewood after her winter supply was stolen from her Dunedin home last week are City Forests chief executive Grant Dodson and Dunedin Firewood owner Warren Michelle.
From offers of a couple of bags to a couple of logs, Dunedin's wood Samaritans have rallied in support of Wendi Raumati.

The Dunedin woman's winter supply of firewood, organised by her husband before his death about a month ago, was stolen last week.

Her story prompted 13 offers of support, ranging from supply, to assistance with transportation and stacking of wood.

Owen Becker said Mrs Raumati's story "hit my heart" and he offered her two bags of off-cuts, perfect for kindling.

He did not have a wood burner and wanted the wood to go to someone who needed it.

Owen Becker (78), chipping in to help the Raumati family.
Owen Becker (78), chipping in to help the Raumati family.
"I thought it [the theft] was a dastardly thing to do to a person like that," he said.

City Forests chief executive Grant Dodson said a "smoko room conversation" prompted the company to offer Mrs Raumati a truckload of wood, through Dunedin Firewood, "because we own a couple of trees", he said.

The offer was not about seeking publicity, rather doing what they could to "help her out".

In contacting the Otago Daily Times about the theft, Mrs Raumati "did not want people to feel sorry for me", as she had plenty of unseasoned wood.

However, she did not want to "refuse anyone's generosity" and said it was "absolutely amazing" to have so many offers of help.

"I don't want to say no to anyone's generosity or kindness, but there are others in the community with a greater need than me."

All offers of support were passed to Mrs Raumati for her to consider and she said she and her daughter spent last night calling everyone who had made offers, thanking them for their kindness and suggesting that if they did want to help someone out, they could offer their support to a service organisation.

At least one of the people decided to make a donation to the Salvation Army on her behalf instead, she said.

She said she had accepted a load of wood from Wenita, and wanted to thank everyone who offered her family some help.

"I'm just very, very humbled because I did not want a sob story.""I just want us, as neighbours and community, to look after each other," she said.

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz

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