Breakfast to recognise efforts of Whanganui's volunteers

70-year-old Allan Willis-Croft has been volunteering for about five years. Photo / Bevan Conley

Around 50 local volunteers have been celebrated at a breakfast in the Christ Church hall as part of International Volunteer Day.

Volunteer Whanganui manager Sandra Rickey was grateful for those who give their time to help.

"The work that you all do in the community is absolutely incredible because without volunteers, organisations wouldn't survive," she said.

Among those in attendance was Allan Willis-Croft, 70, who has been volunteering for around five years.

"You get the enjoyment of going out and all the different people you see and get to meet, and it gets you out of the house," he said.

"This is what keeps me going."

Willis-Croft said he always wanted to give back but was unsure about how he could help while dealing with health issues and using a mobility scooter to get around.

"I was just sitting at home doing nothing and it was boring.

"I said to Sandra one day 'what I can do,' she said I can sell raffles, and that's fine with me.

"We usually do it at Trafalgar Square because we're all pretty old so we don't work outside unless we have to."

Volunteer Whanganui having breakfast for about 50 volunteers. Photo / Bevan Conley

The retiree is part of a group of around 10 people who give their time to help with raffles, while other volunteers help the community in different ways.

"It's very big, there are 105 organisations and over 1000 volunteers in Whanganui," he said.

"We've got the most volunteers per capita in New Zealand and we all get on well.

"It's really good and with the organisations, after we do raffles, they usually put on a morning tea just to thank us.

"They don't need to because we [volunteer] because we want to do it."

Deputy mayor Jenny Duncan was in attendance to thank the volunteers for their efforts.

People of all ages were at the breakfast, and around 1.2 million people participate in volunteering throughout New Zealand.