The Warehouse gives back to Papamoa

From left, Papamoa Playcentre's Nicola Joynt, Trish Ives (Papamoa Support Centre), Papamoa Scout Group leader Graham Morine, The Warehouse Papamoa's Adele Kawiti and Papamoa cub scout Ethan Allen, 9.

Greenies may make you feel guilty for using the plastic shopping bags at The Warehouse Papamoa, but three local community groups are incredibly grateful.

Papamoa Scout group, Papamoa Playcentre and Papamoa Support Centre all received sizeable cheques last week, from the proceeds of plastic bag sales at the local Warehouse over the past six months.

The Warehouse Papamoa service team leader Adele Kawiti says staff vote for the top three local community groups to receive the funding, then customers decide how the money is split up.

"You purchase a 10 cent plastic bag and you get a token, and that token gets dropped into one of the three community [group's donation box]. And then at the end of the six months, depending on the level, it's given out."

Papamoa Playcentre and Scout Group each got $800, while Papamoa Support Centre got $400. Adele says 50 per cent of the funds spent on plastic bags go to the three designated community groups, while the other 50 per cent is set aside for local groups that approach The Warehouse, for one-off sponsorships of product of up to $100.

Adele says the most rewarding part for her is giving back to the community. "Being able to be part of what they do and, essentially, they're our customers so it's nice to give back."

The scout group will use the money for new camping gear, while the playcentre has it earmarked for essential repairs to its centre. Papamoa Support Group will use it for either its youth programme or community education.

Adele says it's great to be able to support the local Papamoa community, with no strings attached.

"I think sometimes Papamoa's always been seen to be part of Tauranga or part of the Mount and it's nice to know that we're actually becoming our own identity ... and know that [the money] is going back into the local community," she says.

"It's not going over into Tauranga, or Greerton, it's staying in Papamoa."