The Wangaratta Uniting Church
operates a very active Op Shop at 39 Vincent Road. We are open from 10 am to
4 pm weekdays and 9am to 12.00 pm on Saturdays.
It began with humble beginnings in
a small shop in Vincent Road, Yarrunga, before
renting
this single fronted shop at 39 Vincent Road. In later years we were able to purchase this, and the shop next door as well. Extensions have been built at the rear
as well as the side to give us more room in the shop and in
the working area.
The Op Shop provides high quality children's clothes and babies wear, mens' and ladies' clothing, accessories and manchester. Books, toys and a wide variety of household goods are also available.
Two persons are on duty on the
counter at a time and there are two shifts each
day. For many people this is all they know
about the Op Shop. The total number of volunteers
on roster for counter duty is 54. In addition to this there are
another 40 or so who work
behind the scenes. We are especially grateful for all
those who are not members of this church who help us in this
important ministry. However, many people are not aware of all that goes on beyond the op shop floor.
We have two bins, one behind our old Appin Street Church and the other beside the shop. The Appin Street bin is
cleared twice a week and the one beside the shop is cleared every day the shop is open. High quality goods are greatly
appreciated but damaged or dirty goods and items such as furniture, electrical and computer goods cannot be accepted.
We are often overwhelmed by the
amount of goods received from the bins and goods that are brought
into the shop. On Tuesdays and
Fridays two teams sort out all these
clothes and goods. The things suitable for sale are sorted into their different
categories and given to the relevant leaders of the different
sections for further attention. The other team packs all the clothes, shoes and bags that are not suitable for sale into 12 kilogram bags which are then stored for the carrier to pick up and take
to Melbourne for rags and other uses.
The Op Shop is actually a small
business operated by a local Management Committee who meet with the leaders of each section on a regular basis. The Section Leaders, who work
behind the scenes, are responsible
for the final sorting, pricing and
arranging of goods in the shop.
There are others who work behind
the scenes assisting with maintenance, collection of metals, and on
“changeover” days twice a year, when stock from one season is changed over for the next.
So what are the requirements for
volunteers to work in the Op Shop? Commitment, Cheerfulness, Camaraderie
and partnership, humour and
harmony are the real characteristics of this important aspect of our church life.
The Op shop provides good quality
goods at affordable prices. It also honours vouchers from Loaves
and Fishes - Christians Caring and provides clothes and other
necessities free of charge to those who have no way of paying for them. In addition to this it makes a
considerable contribution to the finances of the Wangaratta Parish.
Over and above and beyond all this, this Shop provides the
church with an opportunity to provide a compassionate presence, a kind word and an attentive listening
ear to people in our community, hopefully, for many years to come.
- by Rev Carl Clayden
