Featherston's Own volunteers win praise

Stella Smith of Featherston's Own Charitable Trust on Fitzherbert St. PHOTO/HAYLEY GASTMEIER

The owner of Featherston's Own Charitable Trust says she is "very grateful" to the community for all the "excellent support" it has given the op shop over the last five years.

"Because of their generosity we have been able to support people, groups and certain individuals to achieve their goals," said Stella Smith.

Mrs Smith said the store was "run by the locals for the locals" and was to support people of Featherston and Greytown.

Money raised is donated to holiday programmes in the towns, to children's education programmes and "anything to do with education".

"We have five youth programmes we are hoping to support in the next year and we are going to be gifting money to all the schools in South Wairarapa," she said.

"And if we know someone with an illness we get them a food voucher."

Mrs Smith founded Featherston's Own Charitable Trust five years ago.

"Mostly because there were no op shops [in the area] at the time and I just saw the need -- the closest op shop was in Carterton."

A self-proclaimed hoarder, Mrs Smith "thought it would be good to give stuff away".

She also would like to give a "big thank you" to all her voluntary unpaid workers for the time and effort they have put into the store.

"Without them the shop would not be possible."

During summer the op shop on Fitzherbert St will operate a "pop up shop" a few doors down the road, next to Loco Coffee.

Featherston's Own Charitable Trust is open from 10.30am to 2.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Friday and Saturday.

The stores will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year so volunteers can enjoy a break.