Money is a dirty word, and ‘sharing’ is the motto at Nelson’s Koha shed, which opened its doors last Tuesday.
The shed, which is being run out of a volunteer’s father’s garage in Stoke, is a place where people can come and receive donated goods at no cost. The only payment required is a smile.
Organiser Cara Christall says that it all started when a post was shared on the ‘Pay it Forward Nelson’ Facebook page to see if anyone would be interested in starting a local shed. Cara, along with three other dedicated volunteers, put their hands up and decided to give it a go. The following weeks were spent shed hunting and putting the word out for donations.
“The response has been huge,” says Cara. “We’re seeing all sorts of people donating stuff. I think people find a real richness in giving.”
Cara says the shed is all about providing free goods for “anyone and everyone.”
“This is a place where anyone can come and get what they need – there is no taking involved. Here, it’s all about sharing. When you think about it, it’s such simple concept,” she says.
The organising committee has started a Facebook page to get the word out, which has already hit more than 1000 likes. “We’re blown away by the support. We were doing a happy dance at 48 likes – we had no idea it was going to be this big.”
For the Koha shed to continue to grow, a new location is crucial. “Our immediate concern is finding a more suitable space,” says Cara. “We need somewhere bigger, drier, and with more parking spaces. Somewhere in Victory would be ideal.”
The shed is located at 556 Waimea Road, Stoke and is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 11am – 1pm.
