Give and take shelter to try to turn books into food

Raewyn Sharrock says food is in demand at her 'give and take' shelter.

Food is flying off the "give and take" shelf on Koromiko Rd in Whanganui faster than Raewyn Sharrock can keep up.

The charitable resident said the shelf she set up for people to put items they didn't need or to take what they wanted has been growing in popularity.

"The stand is definitely busier now which is great," she said. "Things are turning over a lot quicker."

She wanted to see more food on the shelf as it was clearly in demand.

"Food is really popular and goes quickly when people drop it off, though there isn't enough of it.

"A lot of books have been dropped off, I'm thinking of trying to sell them and buying food with the money I can get for them."

She said she was happy to receive any food but cans as well as fresh fruit and vegetables were most popular.

Sharrock hoped everything going off the shelf was to those in need.

The "give and take" shelf went up outside Sharrock's house in May after she first saw the idea in operation in Raglan over Easter.

She said she had received a few unusual items on the shelf, including a heart monitor.