IHC Scheme improves lives

IHC hopes to receive 100 pledges before Fieldays ends.

IHC and PGG Wrightson are working together to raise money for New Zealanders with intellectual disability through the Calf and Rural Scheme.

Under the scheme, farmers donate a calf and the proceeds go to people with intellectual disabilities.

So far IHC has received 65 pledges from farmers to donate a calf.

National manager fundraising development at IHC, Adele Blackwood, said she hopes more farmers at the Fieldays will pledge to donate.

“Normally we get about 100 pledges at the Fieldays, so we are hoping to get more farmers to see us before the end of the Fieldays,” Blackwood said.

“The rural part of the scheme means farmers can also donate sheep, or goats, or deer or anything like that as well.”

You do not have to be a farmer to support the scheme.

“Anyone can also donate a virtual calf, which means a $300 donation,” Blackwood said.

The IHC Calf and Rural Scheme has been around since 1984.

With the help of 5,000 generous farmers, the scheme raises more than $1 million each year.

“All those funds go to people with intellectual disabilities all around New Zealand in small and large communities everywhere to help them get a better life,” Blackwood said.

IHC has volunteer coordinators all around New Zealand.

“They are not paid but the staff that support and train those volunteers are paid. So it helps fund that work,” Blackwood said.

“So it means that a person with an intellectual disability gets to have a friend and they are matched on genuine interest that they can do together.”

Money raised in the Calf and Rural Scheme goes towards training the volunteers.

“Also human rights issues or access to services and things like that,” Blackwood said.