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1058 days ago

Waikari community op-shop and police issuing 'happy packs' to children in need

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

A community endeavor is helping cheer up children at crash scenes or when police have to visit a home.

The community op-shop in Waikari is now supplying Hurunui police with "happy packs" to give to children they come into contact with.

Profits from the op-shop, which opened in June, are used to support the community, and the first to benefit are local children.

"Senior Constable Rob Ellis was approached to see if he would be interested in carrying a happy pack for the children he came into contact with who needed a little cheering up," volunteer Brenda Murchison said.

"They could be used at the scene of an accident or where a police home visit was required."

Ellis suggested all the police cars in the Hurunui district would benefit from having such packs, so the op-shop volunteers made it happen.

The packs include colouring books, pencils, stickers, badges, police car cut-outs and a hand-knitted teddy.

The op-shop is in the main room of the Anglican church hall at 79 Princes St, and is open Monday and Thursday from 10.30pm to 2pm.

For more information call Brenda on 03 314 6088 or Reverend Elspeth on 027 977 8139.

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The Team from Humans of Christchurch Ōtautahi

"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."

"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’

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- Kalle

View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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