Whangarei SPCA is opening a second-hand shop on Port Road which it hopes will help cover its costs. The store opens on February 20 and will follow the lead of the SPCA's Bay of Island branch, which runs two second-hand shops. Kerikeri shop manager Kay Boese said the selling of used itemsto raise funds began with garage sales six years ago. "It was decided we needed a more secure income, so we opened the shop." The first store started in 2003 in an old house at 27 Kerikeri Rd. It now sells items such as furniture, tools and workers' clothing. A second, more upmarket shop, selling clothing, crafts and jewellery, opened at 113 Kerikeri Rd in 2007. Money raised has contributed to costs such as the construction of shelters, vet bills, and the running of vans. During 2009 the Kerikeri shops raised around $140,000 combined, Ms Boese said. "Despite last year being a recession, we only raised $300 less than the year before." Whangarei store manager Kristy MacDonald said SPCA committee members felt confident about the idea, knowing it had worked successfully elsewhere. "The support the SPCA gets from the Whangarei public is huge - people realise the good job they're doing and are already dropping things off." Ms MacDonald said it was important items were of reasonable quality, she said. "We don't want rubbish." People are invited to deliver their second-hand items to the SPCA shop on 26b Port Rd, next to Salty Dog Seafood, from Monday to Friday next week - between 10am and 2pm. Volunteers are also sought.
