Following the recent volcanic eruption in Tonga, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners New Zealand (CCEP NZ) stepped up to provide financial relief and support to the Tongan community. CCEP NZ matched staff donations, resulting in a total donation of over $10,000 to the Vodafone Foundation/Redcross Pacific Tsunami Appeal on Give A Little. The company’s donation contributed towards the total $215,000 donated through the Give A Little page.
The volcanic eruption, which took place on Saturday, 15th January 2022, could be heard in New Zealand and was picked up as far away as the UK and Italy. The eruption was followed by a tsunami, tragically ripping through the island nation.
CCEP NZ took immediate action with a fundraising appeal to provide support to the Tongan community. Every $1 donated by an individual staff member was matched by the business.
Chris Litchfield, General Manager at CCEP NZ said: “Our immediate thoughts turned to our Tongan colleagues and their families, who were thankfully confirmed safe and healthy. We wanted to do all we could to provide swift support to the Tongan community, matching staff donations to provide just over $10,000 in financial relief. We also looked at other ways that CCEP NZ could support, that are unique to our business, such as water supply and metal drum provision, for other emergency supplies.”
In addition to its donation to the Give A Little page, CCEP NZ also provided significant aid and support to the community directly after the tsunami.
To date, CCEP NZ has:
• Donated 35,000 bottles of 1.5 Pure Drop water that was shipped to Tonga within the first week following the tsunami.
• CCEP NZ donated 100 metal drums, collectively worth $8,000, for the New Zealand-based Tongan community to fill with personal items to ship over to their families in Tonga.
Roseland Tuiaki, Project Manager at the Fungataua Educational and Cultural Trust (who organised the local drive to provide water and other donated goods directly to Tonga) said: “Many lives have benefitted from CCEP NZ’s generosity and [what the company has done] will make a difference in the Tongan people’s continuous struggle to rebuild their lives.”
The Vodafone Foundation/Red Cross Give a Little page acquired just over $215,000. The donation link is now closed.
