'We're not going anywhere' - Merge celebrates rush of donations
A cash-strapped cafe in Auckland that provides meals and outreach to people experiencing homelessness have been saved after a surge of community support. Lifewise's Merge Cafe on Karangahape Road was about $60,000 short in funding, after Covid-19 cancelled their annual fundraiser - Auckland's Big Sleep Out. Merge has been a space where customers can buy a meal for themselves and someone else at the same time. The pay-it-forward system helps provide for those customers experiencing hardship. But for months the cafe had been running at a loss after Covid-19 lockdowns meant fundraising events were cancelled, and there have been fewer paying customers in the CBD. After sharing their story at the beginning of March, the fundraising response was overwhelming, Merge's manager Manu Kahlon told Checkpoint. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6240460656001