Ranges Community Health Service CEO Karyn McPeake and Ros Pruden hand over the keys for its Opportunity Shop to Dandenong Ranges Relief Services’ Christina Johns and shop co-ordinator Frank Watson. 48522
By Tania Martin
BELGRAVE’S Opportunity Shop is working hard to help the disadvantaged.
It’s now under management with the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS) taking over earlier this year.
Up until April the shop in Belgrave’s main street was run by the Ranges Community Health Service for more than 10 years but declining volunteer numbers had made it impossible for it to continue.
But health services CEO Karyn McPeake said instead of closing it down, the service was lucky to find someone to take over running the shop.
Over the past 10 years the proceeds from the shop have gone towards funding the health service’s scholarship program.
A morning tea was held last month (2 June) to thank the volunteers for all their hard work.
Shop coordinator Frank Watson said most of the volunteers had stayed on to help keep the doors open.
But he said more helpers were needed.
All the proceeds from the shop will now be funnelled back into the relief service for those who are finding it tough or need to help putting food on the table.
Ms McPeake said the afternoon tea was a great chance to be able to acknowledge the contributions of the volunteers.
She said it had been important to find a service that could continue the work at the op shop to benefit the local community.
The op shop is now open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
Mr Watson said items that were unsaleable and had gone out of date such as fashion or old school uniforms would be donated to the Diabetes Association of Australia.
