Christmas wreaths bring joy and help a worthy cause

Tony Haslett, Gemma Kleyn, Robin Haslett, Sheila Bouma and Merilynn Clean of the Mount Art Group with some of the wreaths they helped refurbish. Photo/Supplied

Newly refurbished Christmas wreaths are hitting the streets in Mount Maunganui.

The wreaths were restored by the Mount Art Group and installed along Mount Mainstreet on Monday and Tuesday.

Mount Mainstreet manager Ingrid Fleming said she approached the group with a request for help and was pleasantly surprised when the group gave the koha she offered to the local Alzheimer's support group.

Merilynn Crean, president of the Mount Art Group, said the group decided it would be nice to give the money to a worthy organisation.

Mrs Crean was a volunteer at the local Alzheimer's support group and many other members had friends or partners with dementia.

"It was a cause that resonated," she said.

About six members of the group and three of their husbands spent about 60 hours attaching new baubles to the wreaths.

"We thought it was a fun thing for us to do - we could show our hidden talent of putting baubles on wreaths, and help someone else as well," Mrs Crean said.

Mrs Fleming said the wreaths were in desperate need of tender, loving care.

"There are 48 of them that go up on poles up and down the street.

"The koha we gave them to do the job, they donated to the local Alzheimer's chapter. They spent a lot of time and effort for Mount Mainstreet."