''Out of bad comes good,'' volunteer Michaela Malone summed up yesterday, when she visited the shop to check the morale of her fellow volunteers and found them busy unpacking dozens of items dropped off by the public.
The burglary - in which valuable silverware, jewellery, china and other items were taken - had caused shock and anger in the community, Upper Clutha Hospice Trust trustee Ray Rudkin said.
''They're not happy ... people realise that this shop is theirs, really. It's in the community.''
Many had expressed disbelief such a good cause had been targeted in such a way.
''We thought because it's a hospice shop that even a mongrel wouldn't do that.''
The door which was damaged in the burglary was repaired at no charge by a local company, others had offered security cameras and alarms at cost price, and one Wanaka couple had offered to pay for a security system and its monitoring costs.
''We're blown away by people's generosity,'' he said.
A plea for more donated goods for a garage sale and auction at the shop this weekend has been heard by the community and a steady stream of deliveries has been welcomed by shop volunteers during the past two days.
Many played a part, from a businessman who gave $200 cash, to an elderly man who had cleaned out his DVD and book shelves to help restock the shop.
Police have canvassed homes in the area around the shop and were still appealing for further information, including help in locating an old-style grey suitcase with leather straps (similar to the one pictured) which was taken in the burglary.
CCTV footage showed the offender was alone, on foot, and could be described as a tall, slim male who ran from the shop on to Ballantyne Rd and headed towards town.
''I think all right-thinking Wanaka people would be with us in hoping we catch this lowlife,'' Constable Greg Nolet said in this week's Wanaka Crimeline.
