New Rotorua charity shop opens

A new charity shop has opened in Rotorua's central city.
After the recent demise of the Save The Children charity shop, members of Rotorua's Sunrise Rotary Club decided they could fill the void and have opened Charity's on Tutanekai St.
Sunrise Rotary Club president Judith Stanway said the club was looking for a long-term opportunity to raise funds for local charities and a new charity shop seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
"After Save The Children closed Jo-Anne La Grouw suggested there was an opportunity for fundraising," she said.
"The club agreed and really got behind the idea ... and with Jo-Anne using her experience to buy in stock we will have a quality range of goods for sale."
The store will sell a range of gifts, cards, souvenirs and knick-knacks with all the profits going back into the Rotorua community.
All of the stock is new, with "something for everyone".
The shop will open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and on Thursday nights with the Rotorua Night Market. It will also open on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
Sunrise Rotary Club member David Prentice said the past six weeks had been spent organising volunteers and sponsors, and getting the shop ready for a "soft opening" yesterday.
"Everything's been donated, the carpet, signs, fittings, and nothing will be spent on wages so everything will go back to the community."
He said the shop would be fully staffed by volunteers.
Ms Stanway said the operation would need a few months to get off the ground and turn a profit.
"Once we are established the club will then choose who gets those funds," she said.
Charity's - Forever Giving - will be officially opened on Thursday, with the club honouring all of its sponsors who made the project possible.