Constable Viv Sutton and volunteer Atapo Huriwai at the Aroha Boutique storage lock up.
A free service described as a "lifesaver" for more than 800 local families is at risk of folding if it can't find funding or free premises to operate out of.
Aroha Boutique is the brainchild of Constable Viv Sutton, of Rotorua police, who started collecting clothing, homeware and furniture fromher friends last year to pass on to those struggling following the economic fallout of Covid-19.
Before she knew it, she had boxes of items, trailer loads of furniture but nowhere to put it.
"We were picking stuff up but we were getting it in faster than we were giving it out."
A group of volunteers from different community organisations jumped on board to help and before long they had set up Aroha Boutique at an empty building on Pukuatua St.
The service saw Sutton and a band of police colleagues, support workers, social workers and those who worked closely with community organisations selecting needy families to go into the store and "shop" for whatever they needed free of charge.
They would walk out with cots, beds, linen, kitchenware, crockery, clothing and shoes.
Constable Viv Sutton and volunteer Atapo Huriwai at the Aroha Boutique storage lock up. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Sutton said it was amazing how quickly the service took off.
"When everyone started losing their jobs I got to thinking. Everyone was at home cleaning out their homes so I started putting the word out. I did a shoutout on Facebook and went around picking up heaps of stuff."
Constable Viv Sutton and volunteer Atapo Huriwai at the Aroha Boutique storage lock up. Photo / Kelly Makiha
She said the Okareka community did a similar shout out and truckloads of quality secondhand or new goods were donated. The donations had flowed ever since.
But since May this year, Aroha Boutique has found itself homeless after its Pukuatua St building got a paying tenant.
Sutton said they were so grateful to have been able to run the service rent-free for a year but they were struggling to afford the weekly storage lockup they were now paying for.
They had enough koha in the kitty to stay operating for another two weeks, but if they can't get funding or a free empty building soon, they would need to close.
Fellow volunteer Atapo Huriwai was involved in a similar service in Australia.
She said they ideally needed a central city building that was close to other community agencies. She said it would operate as a "shop" but it wouldn't be open to the public or have signs outside - to protect the privacy of those invited.
Both Huriwai and Sutton said no one had ever taken advantage of the service or onsold the items they were given.
"They only take what they need, and we know who are the ones really in need," Huriwai said.
Central Kids Early Education whānau navigator Dee Horne said the boutique had helped her organise whole kitchen needs, linen requirements and furniture and bedding.
"It is such a blessing to them and to us to see them have the things they need to set up a home after being in a motel for so long."
She said Rotorua was very fortunate to have the Aroha Boutique in the community.
"It would be so disappointing if they were not able to keep this going."
Hinehou Stoneham from Te Arawa Whānau Ora said the boutique had offered "incredible relief" to whānau.
"The boutique in Rotorua has been an amazing lifesaver for the many whanau I am currently working with."
Stoneham said whānau were typically marginalised, often being single parents, mostly Māori, women, beneficiaries, living in either emergency housing or paying high rental fees for "substandard accommodation".
"This means that their ability to buy clothing or furniture for their whānau is hugely impacted.
"I have personally witnessed the emotion from whānau who have received goods and services from the boutique. The fact that the goods are free is amazing and such a huge help to our people."
Stoneham said some people had returned to offer koha and others had returned to donate back.
Sutton said they needed about $76,000 for a two-year lease in the central city, or suitable donated empty premises. Given the service was run by volunteers and wasn't a charities commission or an incorporated society, they would also appreciate an organisation to "umbrella" their service, which would allow them to apply for funding.
