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A special celebration will be held at The Den in Maungatūroto on Saturday November 15 to mark both its relocation to 31 Hurndall Street East and the recent passing of its patron Albie Paton.
Since opening in 2015, The Den has raised more than $600,000 for charitable causes such as the town’s dementia unit, hospice, the rescue chopper and Coastguard, as well as numerous smaller organisations.
Store manager Julie Massey says the idea of The Den started with “a few fellas wanting a place to make things or repair things”.
“It was set up on a very casual basis – a place to go for a yarn and a cuppa,” she says.
“As the years progressed, it turned into a large shop selling donated goods from the community, which gave back to the Otamatea community through grants.”
She says its primary goal is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Kaipara.
Albie, who was a founding member and one of its leading lights, died in September, aged 84. He was described as a hardworking man who spent his whole life involved in farming, sports and many projects and initiatives in the community he loved. He used his truck to pick-up many of the goods donated, or from deceased estates, covering thousands of kilometres in the process.
Albie was also instrumental in negotiating the lease of the new premises in the former Maungatūroto Panelbeaters site, opposite the GAS station and below the hotel.
Julie says the new site will give the organisation more space and more light, as well as bay areas to sort and repair goods before they go on display.
She says the volunteers are the backbone of The Den.
“Without them, none of this would be possible and I want to express my sincere thanks to them all.”
The shop will be closed for a week, from November 8 to 14 while the move is underway.
The Den is always looking for volunteers and donations. For information, contact Julie at julie@maungaturotoden.co.nz or 027 4949 448.
