“Since lockdown, (two weeks ago) we have supported over 11,000 Pacific families across the country from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South. This number of families is made up nearly 50,000 Pacific individuals who have received over 12,000 packages of support, which includes food and other essential goods” says PFL CEO Mrs Debbie Sorensen.

The numbers are staggering and highlights the amount of work and investment – $5 million to date – that PFL has utilized to meet the immediate needs of the Pacific community during this time of crisis and uncertainty.

But Sorensen also acknowledged that the speed and efficiency of their operation reflects the strength of the multiple relationships they have across the Pacific landscape. From effective advocacy in Wellington with government agencies and trusted partnerships with Pacific providers to direct engagement with community groups and regional health authorities. This extensive web of intimate relationships ensures that PFL is agile and responsive to community needs.

“We distributed $2 million dollars within 12 hours to our national support partners once the lockdown was announced by the Prime minister. This was how fast we mobilized our resourcing and we can only do this if we have positive and trusted relationships with our support partners.

A recent example are the high schools – De La Salle College, McAuley High School, Otahuhu College and the Pacific Advance Secondary School (P.A.S.S). Our Urgent Response Team has been working directly with the schools’ families and our support partners to provide immediate support once they were identified as an area of interest and needed support with not just food but self-isolation and MIQ assistance.

Our PFL team provide a range of services including community finder coordination, mental health support, referral support for regional health authorities and support for displaced communities such as RSE workers” says Sorensen.

Sorensen also confirmed that their support will continue while the lockdown is in place and while there is demand from the Pacific community.

“Their immediate need is our priority. We will support as many Pacific families as we can for as long as we are required. We are in this together”.

A full list of PFL partners offering support can be found here.

#pmafamily     #pmaunite 

Date: Wednesday 1 September 2021