Covid-19: latest information

This is a particularly challenging time for our members. We have listed below some useful information and resources that you might find useful at this time.

If you need help in any way at this time, please contact your Sweet Louise Support Coordinator. Whether it’s shopping for groceries or you need counselling support, please reach out to your Support Coordinator or email [email protected] and we will be available to help.

Latest news and information for members

Meetings via Zoom

We are keen to connect our members with each other and share experiences – even during this period of lockdown. We are therefore replacing face-to-face meetings with Zoom meetings. Your Support Coordinator will send you details.

If you would like to join a Zoom meeting but not sure if the technology will work for you, please contact your Support Coordinator and they will be happy to hold a special one-on-one trial meeting just with you so you see how it works.

Support Coordinators

Our Support Coordinators will continue to work their usual hours and will be available by phone to support you and assist you use your vouchers for services that remain available.

If you need help or just want to talk to someone, please call your Support Coordinator directly:

Anna Allan (Auckland North & West) 0211976638
Angela Jackson (Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne) 0273288009
Jenny Cade (North Shore) 0273718686
Lesley Narayanan (Canterbury, West Coast, Otago & Southland) 0273288003
Nadine Morton (Auckland Central, South & East) 0275251985
Nicki Roy (Taranaki, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Kapiti, Porirua) 0273288008
Tracy Smith (Wellington, Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Blenheim) 021328835

Or you can call 0800 11 22 77 – this phone line is answered Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 5pm.

Members-only Facebook Group

We will also use our Sweet Louise Member-Only Facebook group as another way of keeping in touch with you. If you haven’t joined yet, please join us.

Facebook group is a private group just for members and Support Coordinators. Anything posted in this group is only visible to members and it is therefore a safe place to share photos, stories, comments, advice and questions. We use the Facebook group as a live noticeboard and will continue to post updates.

Priority Assistance Shopping: Countdown

Countdown has introduced a Priority Assistance Service programme to ensure customers who need it most have access to online delivery services. You can register for the programme here.

We know there are frustrations with this service and booking of delivery slots and Sweet Louise is liaising with other organisations to improve your access for priority assistance. We are also contacting Foodstuffs to see if similar programmes can be offered via New World and PAK’nSAVE supermarkets. We will update you on progress with this as soon as possible.

Monthly Dispensing of Medicines

Pharmacists are currently being asked to dispense only one-month’s supply of a medicine at a time to prevent people hoarding prescriptions amidst the coronavirus pandemic. However, there is discretion for pharmacists to make exceptions to dispense up to three-month’s supply for certain people, including Sweet Louise members. Please talk with your pharmacist about this.

CallMe Service from Vodafone

If you’re running short of credit on your phone, you can use Vodafone’s CallMe service to request your Support Coordinator calls you back. This is a free service for Vodafone network users. All you do is:

1. TXT the number of the person you want to call you to 798.
2. The person who receives the TXT will get: “+642XXXXXXX wants u to call them”
3. After the CallMe request is sent, you will receive a TXT saying the following: “Thank you, your message has been forwarded to +642XXXXXXX”.