Sarah's daughter, Destiny, is one of close to 500 Kiwi kids on a waiting list for sponsorship for basic needs.

Every winter Sarah* and Mike make the choice between groceries, or clothes for their children.

Born 14 weeks early, Destiny has a weakened immune system and gets sick easily. Last winter, she missed a whole term of school due to sickness.

Poverty has been labelled the key driver for respiratory illnesses that are weighing on New Zealand's economy to the tune of $6 billion each year, according to figures from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation.

ROBERT KITCHIN/FAIRFAX NZ About 50 of the children on the waiting list for sponsorship are from Wellington.

But with a family of eight, the $500-odd they get from Work and Income and Mark's part-time job as a teacher aide only goes so far, Sarah said.

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"Do we get bread and milk and feed the kids, or do we get clothes for her and everybody else suffers?"

SUPPLIED Lorraine Taylor, chief executive of children's charity Variety, says winter is the toughest time for families in need.

The Porirua family asked not to be identified to protect their children – but they regularly help teens who may be on probation or have no where else to go for a meal.

"Mike doesn't eat lunch. He always goes without. If someone extra calls in for dinner, he won't eat. He'll just have toast or something."

Destiny is one close to 500 children across the country are on a waiting list with children's charity Variety, which works alongside schools, community agencies and healthcare professionals, to assist children with basic needs such as uniforms, blankets, shoes and school fees.

Around 50 are from Wellington.

Some, such as Kim's autistic son Tyler, who's five, have been on the waiting list for close to a year.

Kim – a solo mum in Porirua – has managed to get sponsorship for her eight year old twins, Kaylee and Ariana, and seven year old son, Jayden, and said it's made an enormous difference to their lives.

Before they were sponsored, Jayden, was regularly hospitalised due to chest infections, Kaylee, missed school due to eczema and both twins - who were premature, had severe asthma.

"For [Jayden] to get discharged from paediatrics was like we won lotto.

"it's not just so much in keeping their feet warm, but their self-esteem too. It's amazing when you nourish a child, it does paint a bigger picture for them inside."

Last Christmas, a "huge as" parcel filled with blankets and food turned up on their doorstep, Jayden said.

Variety chief executive Lorraine Taylor said the sponsorship programme was launched in 2013, following research that made it clear there was a need for such a service in New Zealand.

To date, 2800 children have been sponsored.

But for those still in need – the toughest time of the year is about to hit, Taylor said.

"We visited a family in Waikato last year and had two parents and two children all living in the same room and sharing bunk beds, because that was the one way they could keep themselves warm in winter.

"Any illnesses they have are shared because you can't isolate anybody."

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The funding is targeted to specific needs and pay suppliers such as schools or merchants directly, so donors know the money is going directly to that particular cause.

Children in need are referred by schools and specialist agencies.

Sponsors pay a minimum of $45 each month - or $1.50 a day - for basic essentials.

For more information, visit variety.org.nz or phone 09 520 4111

* Names of the families involved have been changed to protect the identities of the children.