Waitara's All Heart Store keen for volunteers

Wendy Richards from Volunteering New Plymouth

Te Ara Hou Charitable Trust - All Heart Waitara
Have you heard of this Organisations?? Do you know where they are??
I guess that the Waitara kind of gives it away. Yes, they are in the main street of Waitara at 56 McLean Street.

What are they about? They are a Profit for Purpose store – their tag line is “We will do our best in ensuring that the funds raised from the purchases you make are invested purposefully into serving our people and planet.”
All Heart New Zealand Projects pride themselves on redirecting 90% of corporate items from landfill – currently that is 5.8Million+kgs and funds saved or raised $17.6Million. Sounds like big numbers!

How do they do that? – They promote a circular economy by repurposing unwanted corporate resources, making a positive environmental impact. Their approach supports partner organisations and aims to raise sustainability standards for a sustainable future. They hold accreditations and memberships with Akina Impact Suppliers, Auckland Business Chamber, Sustainable Business Council, Sustainable Business Network, Volunteering Auckland, and Zero Waste Network.

What do they Offer? A practical framework that lets any corporate anywhere, divert anything from landfill.

Putting People First
Their approach to corporate social responsibility is centred on empowering communities, reducing poverty and increasing access to education, while protecting the earth.

What do they redirect to the Waitara Store?
Office Furniture, Tech Equipment, Soft Furnishings, Stationery, Hospitality goods, Corporate uniforms, End of Line Products, Cutlery / Kitchenware, Textiles.
Their Impact partnerships include nationwide business like; Mitre 10, The Warehouse Group, AA Insurance, Air New Zealand, Bunnings, Fonterra, NZ Safety Blackwoods, Countdown/Woolworths, Waste Management, NZPost, and Make a Wish New Zealand; to name some of the business connections that we have locally.

Currently Deena, the Store Manager, is supported by one other staff member and a couple of volunteers who pop in or can be called upon. It would be absolutely fabulous if there was someone interested in learning retail skills, who could offer a couple of hours a week. This would be great also for someone who is keen to work in a very supportive workplace, or someone wanting to return to work, or equally someone who is interested in environmental sustainability.
Deena is very welcoming and always keen to have new people join the team and there are a variety of skills to be learnt or to be utilized in the work that is being done in this space.

My first visit to the All Heart Store and meeting with Deena, I left having purchased a new (to me) office chair – which is so very comfortable and high-end quality at an incredibly reasonable price and a couple of metal filing containers, a large tin of coffee, and milo and large box of tea. It is definitely worth a visit – stocks are always changing, and a new delivery of stock is expected next week. Check it out and tell Deena you read the article.

If you are interested to learn more about the work of All Heart Waitara listen to Volly Voices on Access Radio 104.4FM on Sunday 12th May at 2pm and repeated on May 19th also at 2pm where Deena Coster –chats about what is happening in store and how they support the community locally.

This can also be listened to after Monday 13th May 2024 on:
Spotify open.spotify.com...
Apple Podcast podcasts.apple.com...
Access Radio website www.accessradiotaranaki.com...
Volunteering New Plymouth website www.volunteeringnewplymouth.org.nz...

If you are curious to learn more about any of the activities and / or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Te Aru Hou – All Heart Waitara; please contact Wendy at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, email: admin@vnp.nz or Ph/Text 022 571 4228 to take the next step.