Words and images by Brydie Thompson
You’ll likely hear Catherine Sipson spontaneously singing before you see her bouncing down the shop aisles. Her enthusiasm and positivity are contagious, making Waipuna Hospice Charity Shop in Te Puke a fun place to work and visit.
Catherine became retail manager of the store a decade ago, expanding into the shop next door soon afterwards. “It was just a big empty space with nothing in it and we transformed it into something wonderful.”
The in-store process is to clean, sort, price and distribute. Volunteers selflessly donate their time, working hard to ensure donated items (clothing, books, bric-a-brac and furniture) are of high quality and displayed well. “It’s the happiness of my volunteers that I love. There is so much value in the time they give. It makes my heart sing when I hear them say I love coming to my happy place.”
Catherine enjoys the creativity of regular customers, who she says “have a brilliant eye and look a million dollars”. She notices savvy people, not interested in fast fashion, frequently come through the doors because “they want individuality and they’ll find it here”. Te Puke, she says, is a great little town that attracts people from all over the world. Some are travelling and pop in, others stay for the kiwifruit season and need work clothes.
Whether it’s a warm jacket that will last an entire winter, sophisticated office attire or clothing suitable for orchard work it can be found. “We can kit people out from head to toe for a fraction of the price of buying new.” The emphasis on recycling extends beyond the shop shelves. Cardboard, paper and books are recycled and towels, sheets and old t-shirts are collected to be made into rags. Scrap metal is collected and old furniture items are restyled with a lick of donated paint or wallpaper to get a new lease of life.
This is more than just a shop, it’s an important part of the Te Puke community, a place where every purchase supports a worthy cause.
Pera Tipene was on the hunt for jars. Her home in Te Teko is surrounded by fruit trees and the right size jars are essential for her seasonal preserving. Pera is now a counsellor but formerly worked as a chef in Tauranga and Whakatāne. She featured on the Great Kiwi Bake Off, Marae Kai Masters and Whānau Bake Off. Happy to add a few jars to her collection, Pera was better prepared to make her famous feijoa, zucchini and apple chutney.
Andy and Emma Shaw with daughters Brooke (2) and Lily (7 months). Emma had a successful morning second-hand shopping. She’d found beautiful artwork, a bright beach towel and drink bottles. She frequently visits the store and discovers quality clothing and linen. Her visits are motivated by the need to lower expenses due to the high cost of living and to shop more sustainably.
Kiwifruit seasonal workers Roger Henry and Robert Boblang from Vanuatu had finished work early and stopped in near closing to have a quick browse. They were keen to return.
Mel Yeates helps out on Mondays by receiving donations and sorting and fixing items. He’s a talented wood turner and often revamps tired furniture into bespoke pieces. Mel enjoys sifting through the many treasures that are donated. “There is joy in the discovery. It’s not nosey, it’s curious!”
Great mates Di and Jackie have been volunteering since the store opened 10 years ago. Di Watson had baked a tasty caramelised feijoa gingerbread loaf to share the day I visited. She was taking a break from sorting books and cracking jokes to have a slice with a cuppa. “It really is a great place to work.” Jackie McEwan is efficient and practical, flitting happily and masterfully from one cleaning and sorting task to the next. She knows the store inside out. “This is my happy place. I love coming here. I get a huge sense of achievement paying it forward.”
Heather Cartwright has been assistant manager for 10 years. She was skilfully repairing tight black leather pants the day I met her. Heather’s sewing skills are admirable and so too is her ability to ensure all aspects of the store are running well.
Waipuna Hospice provides specialist palliative care for patients living with a life-limiting illness and support services for them and their whānau. Proceeds from the Te Puke shop and their five other charity shops help fund this work.
