Across Aotearoa, Plunket volunteers help make extra support possible. From visiting new parents at home, to running playgroups and parent groups, providing lovingly knitted clothes and accessories for new pēpi, and creating welcoming spaces where whānau can connect, share and feel seen.
For volunteer Kayla, who hosts a Plunket in the Neighbourhood group (or ‘PIN’ Group) in Miramar, Wellington, this mahi is deeply personal. Raising twins during Covid while also moving around a lot meant access to support groups and consistent Plunket care was limited. That experience gave her a lasting appreciation for the power of connection in the early years of parenting. Kayla with her twins.
“I love seeing parents build friendships and realise they’re not alone,” Kayla says. Through her volunteer role, she has watched friendships form between parents who may never have met otherwise, and seen mothers share challenges they had been carrying alone. “We also get to witness the sweet milestones of the little ones and share in those moments of excitement with whānau,” she adds.
Volunteers like Kayla help whānau feel supported, connected and less alone. And when parents feel like they’re a part of a helpful community, their little ones can thrive. Thank you to all the incredible volunteers for this life-changing impact.
