A Christchurch charity that supports parents during some of the most challenging times of their lives has officially opened a dedicated base to expand its impact across the South Island.
One Mother to Another, which provides care packages for parents sitting beside their sick children in hospital and mothers navigating mental health crises, opened its new headquarters and volunteer hub in Sydenham on 26 May.
The opening marks a significant milestone for the charity, which was founded in 2016 by Joy Reid and Christina Buckland. What began as a small initiative delivering handwritten notes and care packs to Christchurch Hospital has grown into a nationally recognised organisation helping thousands of families every year.
Photo credit Angela Jones Portraits
The new facility will serve as a permanent base for the charity’s operations, giving volunteers a central location to pack more than 8,000 care packages each year. These will be distributed across 20 hospital wards throughout the South Island, including all Neonatal Intensive Care and Special Baby Care Units.
Christchurch Deputy Mayor Pauline Cotter officially opened the new site and said the charity’s work went far beyond simple gestures.
“Moments of human connection remind people they are seen, understood, and supported. That’s what makes One Mother to Another so special. You’re not just delivering care packages, you’re delivering hope,” she said.
Co-founder and CEO Joy Reid said the opening represented a powerful new chapter in the charity’s mission.
Photo credit Angela Jones Portraits
“This hub will serve as the heart of our mission to support parents and families during some of their most challenging times,” she said.
“This includes those sitting beside their child in hospital and those navigating the isolation of a maternal mental health crisis.”
The building will also provide office space to support strategic growth and expand the charity’s reach across the region. Board Chair Jane Jackman said the hub would become a space of action, connection, and real impact.
Joy Reid said maternal mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress often intensify around childbirth. When combined with the stress of a hospital stay for a child, the emotional toll can be severe.
“While the trauma of a hospital stay may be brief, its emotional and psychological impact can endure long after a family returns home,” she said.
“In our stretched healthcare system, where medical teams are rightly focused on the child, the emotional and physical needs of caregivers are often left unmet. That’s where One Mother to Another steps in.”
Deputy Mayor Cotter told guests at the opening, “Thank you for showing what’s possible when compassion and community come together. Thank you for turning personal pain into collective strength. And thank you for lifting up families when they need it most.”
The new hub will allow One Mother to Another to keep growing its support network and deliver thousands of care packages each year. Each one offers practical help, emotional reassurance, and a reminder to parents that they are not alone.
