Better Off Together

Saturday, 16 November saw the second Vinnies Pop-Up Free Shop in Wellington, this time held in the community space of the Central Park flats at the bottom of Brooklyn Road. As with 2018’s successful event in Newtown, truckloads of clothes were collected and laid out for the benefit of attendees, who were queuing up half an hour before the 10am opening.

The Free Shop came about under the slogan of ‘Better Off Together’, as well as ‘Vinnies Helping People’, which was adorned on the vests worn by the volunteers who helped to sort the donations and organise and display them on the day. Boxes of second-hand clothes were joined by shoes, linen, toys, and homeware, all of which proved popular. As at last year’s event, free hot dogs and vegetarian nachos went down a treat, and musicians added to the warm atmosphere.

Compared to the 2018 effort, however, this year felt more like a community event rather than just a store. Zaccari Masters from Boar and Blade came along, even bringing his barber chair, and provided 23 free haircuts throughout the day. The Orange Sky van, new to Wellington, also pulled up, offering free shower and laundry services alongside a kōrero with community members – they did eight large laundry loads through the day. Volunteers read stories to kids under a gazebo, and people came and went, bringing others with them to enjoy everything that was on offer.

As well as displaying the value of kotahitanga, the event highlighted the Central Park community room and courtyard as the fantastic space it is. Fortunately, any chance of rain held off, but in any case the ample area inside the building meant this would never have been an issue. The layout let some browse the tables for coveted items and brands, while others enjoyed the food and music in the sun (when it came out). Many thanks go to Susan, the Community Coordinator, for the assistance she provided to Vinnies in utilising the space.

In total, attendees took away the equivalent of around three transit vans worth of items, and the wide range of services on offer created a community hub that was appreciated by everyone there. Some 68 volunteers contributed 295.55 hours (that’s $5,231.20 worth of time volunteered at minimum wage), and around 470 people stopped by to enjoy the day, many staying throughout the afternoon. Heartfelt thanks go to our supporters, in particular Kiwi Community Assistance, Treehouse, Mercer, Kaibosh, Volunteer Wellington, Archdiocese of Wellington, Merio Marsters and the Berhampore Community Centre, Knights of Malta, SVDP Staff, SVDP Conference members, Wellington City Council Waste Fund, City Housing (WCC), Orange Sky, and Zaccari Marsters from Boar and Blade.