Click the image above to view slideshow

Avalon Bay of Plenty in Te Puna is receiving a splash of community spirit with volunteers busy re-painting the centre today.

Twelve Bank of New Zealand staff members are giving the building a fresh coat of white paint following on from the organisation's ‘Closed for Good' day last year.

Last September BNZ closed for business for one day, with staff offering to spend the time volunteering for a range of community projects instead.

BNZ Tauranga senior partner Shaun Burney says they received so many applications for help they could not do it all.

'Avalon applied to have us come out and paint their hall back then, but we had too many projects to do. So we followed up with Mike from Avalon and said we still wanted to do it – so that's why we're here today.”

Shaun says staff were eager to help Avalon – a not-for-profit organisation working to empower people with disabilities to live great lives.

Staff began painting the hall at 8.30am and are expected to be at the centre all day.

The hall is being painted off-white to brighten a previously dark area.

'It's really going to change the room and lighten it up. The plan is for trainees to create individual artwork pieces, which will bring the hall to life.”

A number of Avalon's trainees have been in to visit the volunteers and were asking questions and happily interacting with them, says Shaun.

Avalon general manager Leslie Wallace says they rely on volunteers to assist the organisation in offering the service to disabled people in the Bay.

'There is always more work to be done than can be carried out by our staff. The support of the BNZ staff to carry out this work is hugely valued.

'It's one of those projects where everyone benefits – trainees, staff and the public alike.”