Young Helps Old in Age Concern Trade Me Launch

Date:          November 13, 2009           
                                  

 
Young Helps Old in Age Concern Trade Me Launch

Age Concern is a vital service for older people but new technology and a young person may be the answer to raising funds for the service.

Age Concern Havelock North, like all other not-for-profit organisations, struggles to get its share of the donation dollar.

Age Concern Havelock North Board have been looking for alternatives to traditional forms of fundraising and came up with the idea of using Trade Me to raise funds.

At the same time Hastings District Council launched Growing Communities, a programme where the council employs young unemployed people on behalf of community groups through the Work and Income scheme Community Max.

Age Concern administrator Jenny Pearce says now, with the help of Growing Communities worker 19-year-old Lhani Hewson Age Concern has started a Trade Me account, where we take donated goods and sell them for a profit.

“We have already sold 18 donated items and raised $200 in just two weeks. Lhani takes calls from people with good-quality goods to donate, she photographs them and then puts them on Trade Me. Then the profits go towards to operation of Age Concern,” Jenny says.

“Trade Me surfing is a popular Kiwi pastime for those seeking a bargain and Trade Me have also agreed to give back a large part of their commission too.

“The recession has made things even more difficult to raise funds but people are always happy to donate those things that are collecting dust in the garage.”

Lhani has two years experience as a fitter/welder in Taranaki but struggled to find an apprenticeship when she moved to Hawke’s Bay to be closer to family

Age Concern Havelock North patron and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule spoke to members today and says this is precisely what Growing Communities was designed to achieve.

“Here you have a community group desperate for some assistance and a young person with the computer skills they need to do the job. Lhani has 6 months work, time to find the job she’s been looking for and a new set of skills to help along the way. It’s a win-win situation,” Mayor Yule says.

Age Concern is calling for anyone wanting to donate items to call Age Concern Havelock North on 877 6488 for goods to be collected or drop off items to our Pop-In Centre, Corner

Te Mata Road and Columba Way, Havelock North (Open on Tuesday and Friday mornings 9.30am to 11.30am).”
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