Community prove good friends of fire brigade

A new fire station to house Mangawhai’s volunteer fire service has taken a step closer to becoming a reality after a monster garage sale on Queens Birthday, June 5, proved to be a runaway success.

Founders of fundraising group Friends Of The Brigade (FOTB) and co-organisers of the garage sale, Annie Kitchener and Carol Parkes, are ecstatic about the lucrative outcome of the fundraiser.

“Together with Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade, we wish to extend our sincere thanks to absolutely all in our incredible community,” Kitchener says. “Not only did the community come forward with giving us a wonderful array of goods to be sold on the day to make the event such a success, but they also attended in absolute droves to purchase and show their support.”

Queues of bargain-hunters lined up outside the Wood Street fire station from 8am and Parkes says the steady stream of shoppers saw most of the product sold by 3pm.

“The main organisers, Maurie and Judy Doughty, are thrilled with the outcome and to date, a grand total of about $7000 has been raised,” she says.

Included in the vast selection of items was a dinghy, six sets of golf clubs, fridges, numerous items of indoor and outdoor furniture, household products, a rubber duckie and even 150 pairs of socks which all found new owners. A few special pieces of antique furniture are still waiting for a discerning buyer which will further increase the final tally.

In February this year Kitchener and Parkes founded FOTB due to the current Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade station being partially condemned. The group and MVFB supporters are aiming to raise $150,000 for a brand new station, proposed to be located next to St John Ambulance Station on Molesworth Drive.

“Thank you so much Mangawhai,” Kitchener says. “And also our friends and helpers out there who went the extra distance to make this such a wonderful fundraising success.”

n If you would like to be involved, have any ideas or offers of support, please email friendsofthebrigade@gmail.com

GARAGE SALE: Bargain hunters willingly handed over cash for goods at the Queen’s Birthday garage sale to show their support for a new Mangawhai fire station.