WelCom June/July 2024
Suzanne O’Rourke
Over 200 families had a ‘baby clothing boost’ in February with a Free Baby Clothing event in Naenae, organised by Greenstone Doors Trust.
According to General Manager Wendy Hill, this was the biggest turnout of people yet to a ‘free day’ of pre-loved baby clothing, toys and equipment, which she credits in part to the radio and social media advertising and to the generous space available at the St Bernadette’s Parish Hall in Naenae.
The parish hall was the perfect venue and the local community certainly turned out, which is exactly what was hoped for when Greenstone Doors relocated to the Naenae Presbytery.
Greenstone Doors recently moved into part of the Catholic Presbytery at Naenae and the huge turnout for the free baby clothing day, ‘feels like the best welcome the local community could give us,’ said Ms Hill.
The doors opened at 10am and within an hour the tables were largely emptied. Thanks must go to the generosity of those who donated good quality clothing, toys, blankets, and knitted items and to the volunteers who helped sort clothing and offering encouragement to anyone who was uncertain about where to start with a new baby. For parents whose children have grown out of greatly loved clothes – which have plenty of life left in them – it’s a great way to offer a practical gift to another family.
Greenstone Doors Trust has been a source of support for women and their whānau for over ten years in the Hutt Valley and can agree with Bishop Steve Lowe’s recent comments in WelCom when he says, ‘we know that we are living in a time of increased financial constraints and that this only adds to the stress on families’. His call to all Catholics to, ‘ensure our faith communities are places of non-judgemental, welcoming and generous love, compassion and care,’ reflects the Greenstone Doors’ approach, which is to be always ‘a safe place to talk’.
There was plenty of talk and lots of lively children at this most recent event in Naenae – everyone was, as they always are, welcome.