June 14 – 21 is National Volunteer Awareness Week. As part of the recognition of volunteers in the community, Charles helped out volunteers on Friday, starting with a clean up of the signage by the Johnsonville off ramp, cleaning the accumulated muck from the welcome sign and signs from the various community organisations, like Scouts, Lions and Rotary.

Charles then donated food parcels to the Johnsonville and Tawa Salvation Army’s Food Banks. These banks help families and others who are unable in tough times, to meet the ever rising cost of food.

Finally, as part of a wider campaign to attract more volunteers in Civil Defence, Charles hosted that afternoon for local MPs in Wellington, an information session on disaster and emergency preparedness in the community, working with the Wellington Emergency Management Office.

The session was held in the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC), situated in the basement of the Beehive, commonly called “The Bunker”.

Also present were Grant Robertson (Labour), Chris Hipkins (Labour), Peter Dunne (United Future), and Sue Kedgley (Greens)

Charles is hoping to encourage local MPs to join his group to raise awareness of the roles that MPs will play in a disaster situation, and encourage the public to volunteer with groups like Civil Defence or be prepared for a disaster or emergency.

More photos of the day are on the photo wall