The community can help keep Bay of Plenty families warm and dry this winter by donating heaters and blankets through Sustainability Options’ 20 Degrees winter donation drive.

An estimated 27,000 people in the Bay of Plenty are living in poor housing conditions, while more than 28,000 children nationwide are hospitalised each year with illnesses linked to cold, damp homes, according to a media release from Sustainability Options.

Co-founder Nik Gregg said the number of respiratory related illnesses started to increase dramatically as temperatures dropped.

“A simple heater and good bedding can make a huge difference.”

The 20 Degrees initiative was developed after years of working alongside whānau and seeing first-hand the impact cold and damp housing has on health.

The community can donate heaters and blankets through Sustainability Options’s 20 Degrees winter donation drive.

The programme provides free home assessments, practical education, minor repairs, and connects families to support.

20 Degrees has so far supported 2533 whānau across the Bay of Plenty, delivering more than 12,000 home improvements, the release said.

The World Health Organisation recommends indoor temperatures of at least 20C for young children, older adults, and vulnerable people. However, many homes sit well below this, contributing to respiratory illness, asthma, pneumonia and rheumatic fever.

“With good heaters and lots of blankets, we can help - when a home is warm, when our kids are warm, we see a significant drop in hospital visits,” Gregg said.

How the community can help

● Drop off plug-in electric heaters (no unflued gas), clean woollen blankets and duvets at 59 Seventh Avenue, Tauranga (Monday to Thursday – please don’t leave anything out front outside of those days)

● Donate via Givealittle:https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/20-degrees-1

● Support local initiatives by donating clean curtains to curtain banks or children’s clothing to the Clothing Project.