The Circle of Giving – from Blue Door to the Marlborough community
In the first fifteen years of operating, we are proud to say that The Blue Door has given out over $300,000 in grants to the local Marlborough community. We operate by accepting donations of all manner of items, which are then sold and the profits given out in the form of grants. The Blue Door’s board offers grant funding on an annual or sometimes biennial basis to local non-profit charities, sports groups and other organisations, such as The Marlborough Community Foodbank, Nativity Christian Counselling Service and John’s Kitchen, among others.
While The Blue Door isn’t able to donate funds to individuals per se, last year we made a grant of around $6,000 to the Marlborough District Council for a new bus shelter, which we felt would benefit members of the public who don’t ordinarily benefit from our donations to organisations. Our bus shelter was placed outside the Countdown supermarket in Redwoodtown.
When you donate goods to the Blue Door, or when you shop at the Blue Door, you are making a positive difference to the local community. Donations of goods may help someone furnish a house cheaply, or clothe themselves affordably, or pick up a bargain to enjoy. When people shop at The Blue Door the money stays local and any proceeds from the shop after costs go back into the local community as well – so the circle of giving is rounded out.
Sue Duckworth, The Blue Door Trust chair says "We really admire the generosity of Marlburians – we couldn't do it without them. And we think the story of The Blue Door, with it's circle of giving, is a pretty special one”.