As winter approaches, Waipuna Hospice charity shops are asking for donations to keep their six stores across the Western Bay of Plenty stocked with affordable, good-quality items.

Waipuna Hospice has charity shops at Te Puke, Papamoa, Mount Manganui, Greerton, Fraser Street and Katikati that sell a huge range of quality pre-loved goods to raise funds to keep the hospice's palliative care service free to the community.

Waipuna Hospice general manager of retail Jace Dowman is running a donation drive – asking the community to dig deep into their shoe boxes, closets, storage and anywhere else laden with unwanted items and donate them to the hospice charity shops.

'All items donated just have to be of a saleable quality. Donations received have to be of a standard good enough to be sold – otherwise we have to dump unsaleable items.”

With winter knocking, Jace says the shops would like warming and heating items that patrons are looking for in-store.

'We're after blankets, warm clothing, furniture, beds etc. We do receive electrical goods – and we have them certified before they hit the shelves.”

However, Jace does reminds people that they cannot accept electric blankets, electric fan heaters or gas-bottle-powered heaters – due to safety and legal requirements.

If donors are unsure if their goods are saleable – they can call the donation hotline on 07 281 1755.

'People can also contact us through our website and attach photos of items to show us.”

Plus, there's a free collection service 9am-4pm Monday-Friday, to request items be picked up from your residence. Or drop donations off at Unit I, 4 Brook St – just behind the Fraser St shop.

Jace says the hospice's core service is providing end-of-life palliative care to our WBOP community. 'Our shops are a source of funding to ensure we keep our core service free. Our shops' motto is ‘turning second-hand goods into first-class acre' – so please donate your good condition items today!” For more information, see their advert on this page.