Vintage fabric fair goes down a treat for charity

Turning Point Trust volunteer Nikki Stokes (left) and Career Support worker Rose Webber at the trust's annual retro and vintage clothing sale fundraiser at the Historic Village. Photo / Andrew Warner

Turning Point Trust's annual fundraising sale of retro and vintage fabric and clothing plus other assorted nostalgia drew a huge crowd, with shoppers snapping up loads of bargains.

Established in 1996, Turning Point Charitable Trust, which operates from the Historic Village, is an adult mental health and addiction recovery service provider.

The trust provides a suite of services designed to support people's chosen recovery paths.

Including day activities such as lifeskills courses, fitness and health, visual arts courses, vocational and career path programmes, plus peer support and advocacy services.

Clients seek help from the trust via referrals from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, their own private counsellor, or by self-referral.

Turning Point Trust event organiser Rose Webber said the sale on Saturday was the charitable trust's major annual fundraiser with the almost $6000 raised going towards paying for unexpected expenses, art supplies and volunteers' transport costs.

Mrs Webber said the public response to the sale was "fantastic", with people lined up well before the doors opened at 9am and bargain hunters just kept on coming.

"It was organised chaos at first but people love it, and we get a thrill seeing people so enthusiastic about the stuff they've bought and also hearing them talk about what they plan to do with their bargains. We have already started planning next year's sale," she said.

All the items were donated to or collected by the trust, and included some overflow from local opportunity shops.

• If anyone wants to make a cash donation or has any art supplies they no longer want call (07) 578 6934 or email reception@turningpoint.org.nz.