Shop manager Annette Patterson said the Owaka Swap Shop was a community-based shop where items brought in could be exchanged for vouchers which could then be redeemed for other goods in the shop.
""It is shopping without money.
""We have been open since July 2011. When the swap shop was started by students at the Catlins Area School middle school, it was part of the students' inquiry learning topic on sustainability.
""They [the pupils] ran the swap shop for one school term, then it was taken over by community members,'' she said.
It is now run by a small group of five volunteers.
Mrs Patterson said despite being open for only an hour on Mondays and an hour and a-half on Fridays, the shop had allowed the Owaka community to stop more than $250,000 worth of items going to landfill.
""We are so proud of our customers embracing the idea of recycling, re-purposing and reusing items.''
""It was very nerve-racking chatting to Hamish Jones at the time but it was great to see it when it was finally on air,'' she said.
""It is all about the community buying and reusing items of use that would otherwise be sent to the tip.
""We have had several hundred people supply items to the swap shop over the years and we are very grateful for the community's support.''
The Owaka Swap Shop also gives items to local sporting and community support groups.
They include Catlins Area School, Owaka Motors, the Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre, SAR, the Owaka Bowling Club, Owaka Golf Club, Catlins Cavalcade, Pounawea New Year's Eve Events and Fireworks Group, Owaka Swimming Pool Fundraiser and the Child Cancer Clothing Bin.
""Our latest venue has been to open our first Lilliput Library. This is another way of sharing free books in our community,'' Mrs Patterson said
""This milestone is amazing and we would love to share it with everyone.''
• The Owaka Swap Shop is open on Mondays from 11am-noon and on Fridays from 2.30pm-4pm
JOHN.COSGROVE @cluthaleader.co.nz
