Article from Mikel News - St Michael’s Kelburn Parish and Community newspaper:

You might remember the local personality Narges Hamidi was nominated for Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year. Patricia Thompson goes behind the scenes to get better acquainted with one of Kelburn’s most visible characters.

“I wanted to find a job where I could make difference,” says Narges Hamidi, manager of Kelburn’s op shop. “ I have a BA degree from Victoria University, where I majored in development studies, international relations and political science. Through my studies, I had seen both the divide between the developing world and also how much poverty exists here in New Zealand.”

Narges took over the helm of the Upland Road store in 2015, the week after it opened - one of nine Society of St Vincent de Paul - or ‘Vinnies’ - stores in central Wellington. “I had worked part-time in Florence boutique in Marsden Village during my studies by this was my first full-time job’” she says.

“I love the local community. Our customers really are like a big family. Having originally come to New Zealand as a refugee myself, I feel it is important to make everyone feel welcome. Lots of people stop by here just for a chat and to share what is happening in their lives.”

Everything sold at the store is donated with the proceeds going to the services Vinnies provides in the Wellington community. This includes employing a full-time social worker, running a food bank, providing free clothing and bedding packs for mothers and their babies, helping people in need with household items, and visits to elderly people in their homes as well as to nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, the homeless and anyone experiencing loneliness. Vinnies also runs a number of other services, including a rest home and an altar bread business which provides employment to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

“If people are in need of our services, then they can contact our social worker directly,” says Narges. “But sometimes people will chat to me in the shop and tell me they are facing difficulties and I’ll give them the social workers card and also give her a call to let her know.

“If people need our help, they can pop into any of our nine stores and ask and they will be referred to the right channels for assistance.

“ One of the most satisfying parts of the job is when our social worker brings people around our stores to select items for their homes. It may be a family where a parent has lost their job and they have had to move home suddenly and need things like whiteware. Sometimes it is refugee families who may need everything for the home.

“ The social worker brings them round to select the items they need, rather than choosing for them. That gives them power and dignity. It is great to see them ‘shopping’ for their home and making choices and leaving with big smiles on their faces.”

Narges is currently supported by “eleven lovely volunteers” but more are always welcome and she would like more from the retired community.

There are challenges to the job: bags of donated items that are too soiled or damaged to sell, broken down furniture dumped outside the store when it is closed - which the charity has to pay to dispose of. Also the issue of some individuals going through boxes and bags left outside the shop out of hours, leaving items strewn across the pavement.

“We have a wonderful neighbour nearby on Upland Road, who has a key and will put things inside and the Four Square are also very good,” says Narges. “The community is so supportive, and we get fantastic donations - but the ideal is to bring donations in during shop hours.”

Shop hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5:30pm and Saturday 9am - 4:30pm.

By Patricia Thompson