Store saved from closure

John Bass

The much-loved community asset – the Mahurangi Community Trading Post – has been saved in its final hours. Warkworth’s John and Joanne Bass are forming a new community opportunity shop to replace the Post, when it closes.

It will be a new entity, but will also donate to community causes.

John volunteered for the Hospice’s Shed 29 store before it closed and also volunteered for the Trading Post before work commitments took him away. He has always wanted to run his own store and saw an opportunity to keep a thriving store alive. He recently contacted the owner of the Trading Post’s building and signed a two-year lease.

The new store, to be named Generosity Corner, is expected to open in the first week of August. It will extend its hours to be open Wednesday to Saturday.

John already has some volunteers waiting in the wings, but is searching for more to help out for a few hours each week. He also hopes the community will continue to support the store by donating furniture, clothes, bric-a-brac and kitchenware.

To volunteer or donate goods, contact John Bass 020 4036 4329.