The Koha Shed - a labour of love helping those in need

The Koha Shed
The Koha Shed

The Koha Shed in Nelson - where clothes and household items are given away for free - has just opened its new permanent home after the community pulled together.

The organisers say they've been surprised at the level of demand for the service.

It's been a labour of love, with the finishing touches of putting windows into the Koha Shed making it more of a welcoming room than a container.

The aim of the project is to alleviate poverty and many people donated their time and resources to help it come to be.

Household items like sheets are donated, sorted and then given away freely to those who need them.

"We don't ask any questions, we don't have any forms to fill out and we don't judge," says Koha Shed co-founder Janine Brennan.

The Koha Shed quickly outgrew its humble beginnings in a residential shed, plus a tent. From the container to the concrete slab at the Victory Community Centre, nearly 20 businesses have been involved.

"We just rocked up, said 'we need help, can you help us', and it's been incredible. We've been absolutely blown away by the generosity," says Ms Brennan.

She says it's a myth that only beneficiaries need help.

"We're helping a lot of working families. Two parents working, rents are too high, and they're still not making ends meet," says Ms Brennan.

"In particular domestic violence situations, we feel if we can get in there and provide that bit of help early, it just helps them maybe gain a bit of strength to not go back into those situations," says Koha Shed co-founder Cara Gledhill.

"I haven't been hugged more in my entire life than I have been in the last year."

The Koha Shed will formally open for business next week.

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