During the Covid19 lockdown, Gulf Rise Sales Executive Michelle Pipping came up with a brilliant plan to connect residents of the village with local kids in the community, and keep her 6-year old, Holly, busy at the same time.

With Holly’s help, she organised for more than 60 children from the local community to write letters and draw pictures for residents at Gulf Rise and neighbouring Hibiscus Coast Village.

Pat Jeffries, who lives at Gulf Rise, was thrilled to be paired up with pen pal Holly. They exchanged letters and bonded over their love of cats. The whole experience had been “just lovely” according Pat, 78, “it gave me a great deal of warmth and pleasure.”

Many residents are still in touch with their pen pals, with plans for a meet up event where the kids can meet their pen pals in person in the pipeline now restrictions have lifted.

The story also hit the headlines, featuring on the Stuff.co.nz website during lockdown.

Read the article
Link: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120954475/coronavirus-kids-write-heartwarming-letters-to-auckland-retirees-during-covid19-lockdown?fbclid=IwAR2wpDnXeV5w0f0EikkyCfraZmJvbz8Jwb01pEFIOVdRAQUFXr4FSMBpr58

The gardens have really come alive at Gulf Rise with landscaping around the garden pavilion and Rakino apartments nearly complete.