Community minded mission

An ambitious new local initiative with a core purpose to solely benefit the broader Mangawhai region, is set to make a debut in October.

A group of passionate locals have spent the last three months formulating and fine tuning the design of an extraordinary community-minded idea, the Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop Trust (MCOST).

One of five trustees, Ken Rayward says the trust’s vision is to finance projects that aim to bring significant social benefits to the community. “The first platform for the trusts' fund raising activities is the opening of a second-hand shop, the Mangawhai Opportunity Factory,” he says. “However this is a first, as the total focus and reason for being, is 100 percent dedicated to the enhancement of the whole community.”

Three local women are the motivating force behind the concept. Melane Quigley, Denise Davies and Margie Murray, say they were inspired by the success of Mangawhai Fire Brigade’s June garage sale, where they were lending a hand.

“We got quite excited about the idea,” Margie says. “To help other organisations achieve what they’re trying to achieve… to have a fund that people in the community can donate to as well as apply for funding from.”

Located at Mangawhai Heads, Mangawhai Opportunity Factory will be managed by Melane and Denise who bring a wealth of experience to the role, being key members in the establishment of Mangawhai Village’s St John opportunity shop in 2010. However, they believe the Factory, as it is fondly called, will only complement St Johns.

“A lot of people like to travel around touring different op shops to check out the bargains,” Denise says. “I think it will only serve to enhance the area.”

Profits from the shop and other fund raising initiatives by the trust, will provide grants "for deserving Mangawhai projects with the key criteria being that they enhance the Mangawhai community and deliver identifiable social benefits".

MCOST funding rounds will take place twice a year and Chair, Roger Hill says there is a broad criteria for submissions including cultural, educational or sporting ideas.

“We’ll possibly also like to meet with the applicants to talk about their ideas and see how we can help,” he says. “The whole process will be highly transparent. Successful applicants will sign an undertaking that the funds will be spent on what’s intended and we’ll have photos of the different projects on the wall of the shop so people can see where the money is going to.”

The group say the response from the community to date has "been fantastic and enthusiastic" and they've received numerous offers of help from the community including from tradespeople.

“We just need more stock now,” Melane says. “And we’re also very keen to chat with anyone in the Mangawhai community who would be interested to work at the Factory on a voluntary basis, with hours to suit them."

n Shifts for the shop will be for a minimum of three hours. If you're interested in lending a hand or have stock to donate please call Denise 021 053 2360, Melane 021 213 660 or Margie 021 620 815. Mangawhai Opportunity Factory will be open seven days, Mon-Sat 9-4, Sun 10-2.

OPPORTUNITY FACTORY: (back left) Team member Reade Murray with Trustee Ken Rayward, Chair Roger Hill and Shop Manager Melane Quigley, (front left) Trustees Margie Murray, Denise Davies, and Brett Denize.