By Derek Schlennstedt
To celebrate National Op Shop Week, Fernlea House of Opportunities Op Shop will be offering 50 per cent off all clothing, shoes and accessories until 2 September.
The op shop plays an important role for Fernlea, allowing them to provide respite services and support to people with life-limiting illnesses.
Emerald Fernlea Shop of Opportunities CEO Sue McIvor said that as part of the National Op Shop Week, they were also serving tea and coffee.
“We are having a sale in our shop, and offering free cake, tea and coffee for our customers,” she said.
“We’re more than just an op shop.”
The op shop re-uses, re-cycles and re-purposes unwanted goods to support the day respite services, and is reliant on donations from the community.
In January this year, the store made the move from 11 5-7 Kilvington Drive to 15 Kilvington Drive, a stone’s throw from the former site.
Since making the move, the store has established itself in the old Emerald police station, and is on its way to building a community garden which Sue said was part of a $1000 grant from Stockland.
The garden is aiming to be finished in the next six months, and Sue said it would help them become more self-sufficient and provide food for people in need.
“It will be great as we will be able to produce some of the food here, and then we can use it in the kitchen where we cook for our clients,” she said.
“We are also in the process of setting up a food is free system, where we’ll have a cupboard on the front porch, and anyone who has excess crops or food can put them in there and anyone in need can come and grab them.”
“We’re reliant on donations from the community, and they have been fabulous in supporting us,” she said.
Sue invited everyone to come to the store during National Op Shop Week where ‘all women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories will be going out at half price’.
“There are real treasures here, so come and grab a bargain,” she said.
