WholeyHealth

04/09/2025

01/06/2025

"When 79-year-old George retired, he didn’t buy a golf club or a hammock. He hung a handmade sign in his garage window: “Broken things? Bring ’em here. No charge. Just tea and talk.”

His neighbors in the faded mill town of Maple Grove thought he’d lost it. “Who fixes stuff for free?” grumbled the barber. But George had a reason. His wife, Ruth, had spent decades repairing torn coats and cracked picture frames for anyone who knocked. “Waste is a habit,” she’d say. “Kindness is the cure.” She’d died the year before, and George’s hands itched to mend what she’d left behind.

The first visitor was 8-year-old Mia, dragging a plastic toy truck with a missing wheel. “Dad says we can’t afford a new one,” she mumbled. George rummaged through his toolbox, humming. An hour later, the truck rolled again—this time with a bottle cap for a wheel and a stripe of silver duct tape. “Now it’s custom ,” he winked. Mia left smiling, but her mother lingered. “Can you… fix a résumé?” she asked. “I’ve been stuck on the couch since the factory closed.”

By noon, George’s garage buzzed. A widow brought a shattered clock (“My husband wound it every Sunday”). A teen carried a leaky backpack. George fixed them all, but he didn’t work alone. Retired teachers proofread résumés. A former seamstress stitched torn backpacks. Even Mia returned, handing him a jar of jam: “Mom says thanks for the job interview.”

Then came the complaint.

“Unlicensed business,” snapped the city inspector. “You’re violating zoning laws.”

Maple Grove’s mayor, a man with a spreadsheet heart, demanded George shut down. The next morning, 40 townsfolk stood on George’s lawn, holding broken toasters, torn quilts, and protest signs: “Fix the law, not just stuff!” A local reporter filmed a segment: “Is kindness illegal?”

The mayor caved. Sort of.

“If you want to ‘fix’ things, do it downtown,” he said. “Rent the old firehouse. But no guarantees.”

The firehouse became a hive. Volunteers gutted it, painted it sunshine yellow, and dubbed it “Ruth’s Hub.” Plumbers taught plumbing. Teenagers learned to darn socks. A baker swapped muffins for repaired microwaves. The town’s waste dropped by 30%.

But the real magic? Conversations. A lonely widow fixed a lamp while a single dad patched a bike tire. They talked about Ruth. About loss. About hope.

Last week, George found a note in his mailbox. It was from Mia, now 16, interning at a robotics lab. “You taught me to see value in broken things. I’m building a solar-powered prosthetic arm. PS: The truck still runs!”

Today, 12 towns across the state have “Fix-It Hubs.” None charge money. All serve tea.

Funny, isn’t it? How a man with a screwdriver can rebuild a world."
Let this story reach more hearts...
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Credit: SYJ

24/04/2025

We are opening at 1pm today.

LEST WE FORGET

18/04/2025

We are closed tomorrow..Holy Saturday

Open again on Tuesday

Have a wonderful, blessed and family-filled Easter

28/02/2025

Here at WholeyHealth! Village Market in Whakapara, we make sure your dollar is doing good, while still being fair to your pocket.

www.wholeyhealth.com

Guaranteed fair trade

20/12/2024

Kia ora e te whānau!

The festive season is here, and we’re excited to help you with all your holiday needs! Here’s our updated opening hours for Christmas and New Year 🎄✨

Market Hours:
🎄Christmas Eve (Rātapu 24 Dec): 9:00am – 4:00pm
🎄Christmas Day (Rā Kirihimete 25 Dec): Closed
🎄Boxing Day (26 Dec): Closed
🎄Friday 29 Dec: 9:00am – 5:00pm
🎄Saturday 30 Dec: 10:00am – 4:00pm
🎄New Year’s Eve (Rātapu 31 Dec): 9:00am – 4:00pm
🎄New Year’s Day (ra tau hou 1 Jan): 10:00am – 4:00pm
🎄Thursday 2 Jan: 10:00am - 4:00pm
🎄Friday 3 Jan: 9:00am – 5:00pm
🎄Saturday 4 Jan: 10:00am – 4:00pm
🎄Sundays & Mondays: Closed

Come down, enjoy the festive vibes, and support our wonderful local businesses. 🎁

Meri Kirihimete! ✨

(PS: Check out our nativity scene in store this year—bringing all the Christmas magic!)🕊️

18/12/2024

Give the gift of good! Trade Aid cafe-style cup'n saucer, special Christmas blend of ground coffee, and a handmade tree decoration all for $25.20 ($21.42 member). We can box it and wrap it - sorted! 🌲

www.wholeyhealth.com

12/12/2024

Looks and smells like summer!
ALL local: flowers, cucumber,
SWEETCORN
Christmas PLUMS, nectarines, courgettes, oranges, mandarins, STRAWBERRIES, salad mix, TOMATOES, celery, Avocado, BANANAS and more!

www.wholeyhealth.com

03/12/2024

No better way to get into the Christmas spirit!
Bramble Flower Farm are holding this festive wreath making workshop here at our place in perfect timing to give your home a beautiful Christmas feeling🌲
The steel frame lasts forever and you will be able to use what you have learned to create centrepieces, candle surrounds, wall decorations and gifts all year round 🌹🍁🌼
So excited for this! 🤗💕

02/12/2024

Beautiful locally and sustainably grown flower bouquets by Bramble Flower Farm.
Welcome to the whanau 💕
www.wholeyhealth.com

01/12/2024

31/10/2024

Margie’s Flower Bar Pop-Up 🌻 Build your own bouquet!
Only $1.00 per stem - locally sourced
Come in store to create your very own unique bouquet 💐