Community gift over $100,000 back to community

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Only a year on from humble beginnings, a unique funding idea which sees a return of thousands of dollars back into the Mangawhai community, celebrated its first birthday and announced more worthy recipients at a recent birthday bash.

Mangawhai’s ‘The Factory’, an opportunity shop whose proceeds support local community projects, held a birthday gala on location at the Wood Street shop on October 13. The affair attracted a large crowd who braved a chill wind to celebrate the much-loved store and witness Kaipara Mayor Jason Smith, reveal 19 new community initiatives to receive funding.

Governed by Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop Trust [MCOST], chair Roger Hall welcomed visitors including first and second-round recipients. The Factory was the brainchild of three local women - Margie Murray, Melane Quigley and Denise Davies – who wanted to create a shop which would grant all profits back to the community ‘for projects delivering social benefit… 100 percent for our community’ he says.

“Who would have thought that a year ago we would be here today celebrating the awarding of $101,916.00 to 28 community groups after one year’s trading,” he says. “What we didn’t know is how the community would take this project to its heart and support it from day one. We think this is a fine example of the famous Mangawhai ‘can-do’ attitude. Thank you Mangawhai for your support.”

To applause from the crowd, Hill and Mayor Jason Smith handed out certificates to the first Factory’s recipients from March before revealing the 19 second round receivers. In his speech Smith stated it was a great privilege and pleasure to be part of the remarkable event.

“This is a very special thing we are witnessing today, besides the wonderful thing of the money re-entering the community really quickly, the other very important aspect is the volunteerism that is behind the success of this organisation, with more than 50 volunteers along with the Trust who are at the core, it is fantastic,” he says. “I’d like to congratulate everyone from Mangawhai who have contributed, the wonderful organisations who work so hard right across the community, and Roger and the trustees for creating this opportunity and this extraordinary model. Carry on, lets hit $200,000 next year!”

Smith also acknowledged the four councilors who ‘were here in force’, Anna Curnow, Libby Jones, Victoria del lar Varius-Woodcock and Deputy Peter Weathy, saying with more than half of the council present shows the ‘great deal of council support’ for the initiative.

MCOST spokesperson Ken Rayward says the ‘very pleasing part’ of the second funding round was the diverse range of recipients across essential community support services including development of youth achievements, and humanitarian support and initiatives for disadvantaged Mangawhai families.

 

“To see how the Mangawhai community has embraced The Factory, both as donators of products and customers, has been an incredible experience, our high expectations were far exceeded,” he says. “Having the Mayor, the Deputy and four councillors attend our Grant Award celebrations, is great testimony to the important role that The Factory plays in our community and will continue to be. For the trustees, who are all volunteers, it is a very rewarding experience, one that brings with it a great sense of pride.”

 

First round of recipients:

Mangawhai Activity Zone [MAZ]

Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Services

Mangawhai Recreational Charitable Trust

Mangawhai Tennis Club

Mangawhai Toy Library

Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust

Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade

Rodney North Blue Light Ventures

Te Whai Community Trust

 

Second:

Hakaru Branch of Wellsford District Pony Club

Linking hands

Mangawhai Activity Zone

Mangawhai Army Cadet Unit

Mangawhai Artists

Mangawhai Beach School

Mangawhai Community Garden

Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Services

Mangawhai Library Hall

Mangawhai Mission Trust

Mangawhai Museum and Historical Society

Mangawhai Recreational Charitable Trust

Mangawhai Toy Library

Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust

Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade

NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust

Rodney North Blue Light Ventures

St Marys Catholic Parish

Te Whai Community Trust

 

Photos:

1: Winning representatives of worthy community groups after receiving Factory grants with [front row, from left] MCOST trustee Dianne Christensen, Mayor Jason Smith, MCOST Chair Roger Hill and trustee’s Margie and Reade Murray.

2: Trustee and founding member Margie Reade and shop manager Lyndsey Williamson have the honour of cutting the birthday cake, made by Margie herself.

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