Curtains for curtain bank - for now

Volunteer Chris Cresswell attaches a blanket to a board, to make a window blanket. Photograph by Stuart Munro

At least 100 Whanganui houses should now be warmer, thanks to the pop-up Curtainbank in Guyton St.

The Curtainbank was open for a month, giving away donated curtains and fittings to hang them. It also taught people how to make window blankets, and gave one dontated blanket away to each household.

It was an intiative of Community Resilience Whanganui (CReW). Nelson Lebo, Chris Cresswell and four other volunteers have kept it running in an empty shop.

About 20 people came to the first window blanket workshop, and more were due for the last one on Friday. They were asked to bring exact measurements of the window they want to cover.

Mr Cresswell said people had been fantastically generous with giving away curtains and blankets, and Bunnings had donated wood and fastenings.

One woman who came in left with a curtain she thought would make a dress, and gave a donation.

"I feel funny just taking something and I look like a million dollars," she said.

There are still some curtains and blankets available. People who want them can contact Mr Cresswell and Mr Nelson on Facebook.

CReW's next initiative is likely to be a speaker's corner for regional and district council candidates at the River Traders' market in the weeks leading up to the October local body elections. The candidates will be asked "green" questions such as how the councils can provide for better housing or prevent future floods.