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One News Good Sort John Griffiths sells pens for charity in Dunedin - Source: ONE News -
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A man who spends his days on the streets of Dunedin is the latest ONE News 'good sort'.
At this time of year, there are warmer places to be, but John Griffiths wouldn't have it any other way.
He does it, he says, because he gets to see the best of humanity every day.
Griffiths whistles while he works four days a week selling pens. He does this not for himself, but for others.
"This is my way of giving something back to the community because the community has been very good to me," he says.
Two dollars gets you a luxury pen with a tapered rubber grip. One dollar for regular. Every pen gets tested first.
"I place a lot of emphasis on how I display my pens. Presentation is a big factor, and good marketing," says Griffiths.
He once sold enclopaedias door to door. The secret, he says, is determination and dedication. In 10 years, Griffiths has sold more than 100,000 pens, nearly $20,000 in sales. All of the money has gone to charity.
Has such a prolific seller ever thought about selling cars or something else?
"No, not now. I'm 70," he replies.
His scrapbook shows he once founded the Dunedin Pen Collectors Club in 1984. Yes there was such a thing. Now at the back houses his calculations of which he is very precise.
"So far I have raised $8710. By the end of the month, I will have $10,000 in the bank for them," he says.
Over 10 years, customers have become friends, like Wilma and Yvonne Queale, identical twins from Invercargill who are buying for a pen collector down south.
The sisters say they use the pen themselves and then when it runs out, they give it to Griffiths.
Like other people when they retire, they do things for themselves.
So why does Griffiths do things for other people?
"I just like to be out in the community and so does my wife. My wife is my principal supporter," he says.
Griffiths is all family because when he was young he was a ward of the state before leaving home at 14.
"I had a tough upbringing but it didn't change it my life. It has done a lot of good for me," he says.
The people of Dunedin have become John Griffiths' family.
No wonder he leaves each day whistling with a happy tune in his head.
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