• Tamaki and Districts Times

A PANMURE opportunity shop is providing inexpensive clothing and everyday essentials for struggling families in the community, as well as raising money to aid children in the Pacific.

The shop, run by the Island Child Charitable Trust, provides a New Zealand base which sends supplies to hospitals and schools in the Pacific.

Danielle Bergin established the trust in 2003 and says it first began sending baby clothes, nappies and linen to aid the work of New Zealander Dr Derek Allen at Norsup Hospital on a remote island off Vanuatu.

Danielle saw a documentary on Dr Allen just after the birth of her daughter, during which she experienced serious complications.

“I realised that if I was one of the women in that hospital I could have died and my baby would have been orphaned. So I wrote to Dr Allen asking if there was anything I could do to help.”

Danielle saw the need for an opportunity shop last year as the trust grew and began receiving goods not suitable for sending overseas.

The store now provides relief for families in the Panmure and Glen Innes areas. Any money raised helps with freight costs for sending supplies to the Pacific.

“The shop helps families who often can’t afford essentials such as pushchairs, car seats, school shoes and winter clothing,” says Danielle.

“With winter coming there’s a great deal of stress on many people. We try to assist local people because while there is need overseas, we have to accept there’s poverty in our own backyard.”

As the trust changes over time, so does its requirements.

There’s now more focus on sending educational equipment to the Pacific, particularly to kindergartens in Vanuatu. English dictionaries, novels and textbooks would be a great help, Danielle explains.

There’s also a need for appropriate toys — specifically jigsaws, building blocks and dolls.

“We need culturally appropriate toys, as we don’t want to westernise their culture.”

Support from the community has been “huge” but more is needed from other suburbs, because people living in Panmure and Glen Innes don’t really have much to give themselves, says Danielle.

“The trust is desperate for towels, linen, curtains, car seats and pushchairs. Cash donations are also accepted.”

The Island Child Charitable Trust opportunity shop is at 14 Hobson Drive, open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 4pm.

Anyone interested in donating goods or helping the trust in any way can contact Danielle Bergin on 574-5563.