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Fund-raising sizzles in New Zealand

While many North American clubs flip pancakes as fund-raisers, Kiwanians in New Zealand sizzle sausage

Howick Kiwanians are not alone at the grills.

• The Kiwanis Club of Takapuna sponsored two sausage sizzles in one weekend this past October, selling 1,081 links.

• The Kiwanis Club of Waimairi, Christchurch had a successful October sausage sizzle; however, as other clubs continued sizzling at the national Children’s Day in Christchurch, the Waimairi Kiwanians provided a Devonshire scone booth.

No matter which New Zealand club dons the apron and barbeque hat, the concept is the same: a paper serviette on which is placed a slice of bread topped with a sausage, fried onions, tomato sauce, mustard, and/or mayonnaise. And the Kiwis call it a “Sausage Sizzle.”

For the Kiwanis Club of Howick sizzle, a butcher trims his price for nonprofit organizations, says club secretary Ernie Hough.

“Not only is the butcher public-spirited, but the retailer is of a likemind,” he says. “The gas barbecue is provided for those organizations using their storefront area at no cost.”

The sign at the Howick sausage sizzle simply reads, “Kiwanis cares about kids,” and sausage proceeds benefit children. Throughout the New Zealand-South Pacific District, clubs support Project ‘KTB’ (Kiwanis Targeting Burns), which was started to purchase an anesthesia machine for a children’s hospital’s pediatric burn unit. The unit cares for all seriously burned children from the South Pacific.

Kiwanis Club of Howick sell sausages to raise money “We actually purchased two machines in less time than we expected to take for one,” Ernie says. “This project is now extended to include helping in setting up a new National Burn Unit at the same hospital. We have a collection bucket to accept donations at the sizzle. Having recently increased our sausage price from NZ$1 to $1.50, it is not unusual for customers paying with a $2 coin to put their change in the bucket.”

Besides filling stomachs and fulfilling fund-raising needs, club members use the sizzle as an opportunity to distribute Kiwanis literature to patrons.

“In addition to raising funds, we are ‘spreading the word,’” Ernie adds.

Unusual sausage sizzle requests:

• “Really burnt. Incinerate it.”

• “It’s a treat for the dog.”

• “No sausage—just mustard, onions, and sauce.”

• “I’d like a black one, please.”

• “Not too well done, please.”

• “Extra bread, please.”

• One gentleman refused bread and walked away eating his sausage like a lollipop.

• A lady asked for the sausage to be cut in half, which the Kiwanians did. Then she explained she meant lengthways. Again, the Kiwanians obliged.

• A mother requested “a cold one.” After the Kiwanians explained their lack of the necessary license, she pointed to the child in the stroller in front of her and said she didn’t want the child to burn his mouth.