Charities in fight over profit claims

By Tania Martin
A COCKATOO Opportunity Shop is calling for an apology from a Pakenham-based relief service.
Neil Jones of the Nell Mitchell Op Shop has called for the apology after a flier produced by the 4C’s (Cardinia Combined Churches Caring) Emergency Food Bank inferred that Op Shops are profit making organisations.
The flier was produced for the opening of the Cockatoo Care Plus shop and states that “Unlike an Op Shop which is there to make money a Care Plus Shop’s goal is not financial.”
Mr Jones has taken exception to being described as a profit making group.
He has called for a public apology from the 4C’s Foodbank as he feels that the inference that the Op Shop is a money making business will have an adverse affect on the shop.
Mr Jones said all the staff at the Nell Mitchell Op Shop are volunteers and all funds made from the sale of goods are put back into the local community.
Mr Jones said in the past 43 years the Op Shop has donated more than $500,000 into local community groups such as the Country Fire Authority, the bowling club, local schools, and the tennis club. “We seek a public correction of the offensive statement and a suitable apology addressed to our volunteers,” he said.
However, Jenni Mathieson of the 4C’s Foodbank was unable to make a comment about the issue because the person responsible for the flier is overseas.