Profits go back into community

An aging Presbyterian congregation has found that it is really is more blessed to give than to receive.

The newly launched St Andrew’s Op Shop is donating all the profits back into the Stratford community. Located in the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Hall in Regan Street, Stratford, the shop accepts donations of any item and sells them back to the community for no more than five dollars an item. The cash is donated to pay for school trips or sports exchanges for children whose financial circumstance might mean they otherwise would not be able to attend.

Organiser Penny Gavan said “the church realised it needed to develop some community outreach to connect with local families and invite them to a newly launched breakfast service.

“They were awesome. They just decided that something needed to be done to bring in the young people,” she explained.

Mrs Gavan was surprised to discover how many families were struggling financially.

One family came in and purchased a set of bunk beds for three dollars — the first beds their children had ever had.

“They had mattresses but no bed,” she said. “Those stories make it all worth it.”

Mrs Gavan says many women are now visiting the shop for coffee and social connection. “Two or three of them have asked to have a look around the church”.

The shop also has a movie and play room for children to use and only nine weeks after it first opened, Mrs Gavan is impressed by the community support.

Launching the shop, she says, was a step of faith. After fearing initial stocks of clothes would run low she met with the church reverend John Mattock to pray.

“The next week when we pulled up there were bags outside. This is one of those things where you have got to have complete faith in God,” recalls Mrs Gavan.

Not only are donations flooding in but so are shoppers. So much so that Mrs Gavan is now looking for volunteers to help man the store so it can be open more hours. It is open from 10am to 2pm every Thursday.

By Aaron Ironside