The Tharpa Choeling Buddhist Centre in Wellington will be organising events and donation drives for a variety of cause across the coming months.
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For the immediate future, the Buddhists at the centre will be accepting donations of sleeping bags in order to recycle them into furnishings for the homeless, according to organiser Thubten Choden.
"We're having a sleeping bag drive, that means people can drop off their old sleeping bags, we're recycling them for the homeless, so people can drop them of and people can give them to an organisation that needs them to provide them for homeless people," Venerable Choden said.
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At present, the plan is for the sleeping bags to be contributed to Reverand Bill Crews' Exodus foundation, which has provided frontline support for the homeless and poverty stricken for the last thirty years.
"At the moment, we're planning to take them to the exodus foundation in Sydney. That'll be running until July."
Ven Choden says that anyone who has sleeping bags in 'reasonable condition' that they are willing to part with can drop them off on Saturday, Sunday and Monday between 1 and 4pm, or check online at the centre's website for a time that aligns with the centre's classes.
The centre will be doubling up on it's recycling efforts as well, setting aside two days in June surrounding World Environment Day to host workshops based around educating the public on recycling options, alternative energies, the environmental benefits of vegetarian diets and other practical classes that'll teach attendants skills, like how to make their own toothpaste.
"There'll also be a sample bag which will be a gift for the first twenty five people to come through each day."
"The idea is for each of us so we can do something to help the environment."