Op Shop shares the love
Since opening their doors, Op Shop Charity Singleton, has donated $1,566,753.50 to Singleton’s aged care facilities and other local charities.
This year the profits totalled $62,535 and again it was Mercy, Cooinda, Alroy and Elizabeth Gates residential homes that scored a share of the money alongside Singleton Hospital Auxiliary, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Singleton Cancer Appeal, Singleton Public School Special Ed class, Singleton Girl Guides, the Women’s Health Clinic, Singleton Town Band and Singleton PCYC.
Treasurer Anne Hoddle said the figure was around $12,000 down on last year due to covid but it is still a significant amount when you consider it is raised by a band of 31 volunteers and an ever-supporting community that is forever donating goods to the store located in the Masonic Hall building in John Street, Singleton.
“It has been a tough year for everybody, we closed for six weeks from March and some of our volunteers, because of the age group, don’t feel comfortable coming back on board and you can’t blame them at all,” Anne said.
New practices including storing clothing for 48 hours before sorting, use of masks, gloves and hand sanitiser and single use cutlery have all been introduced as a result of covid. They also had to install a Perspex screen at the counter which came at a cost to the organisation.
Covid was also a time when people had more time at home and used that period to clean out their closets so there are plenty of new items in the store.
The store is currently open from 9:30am to 2pm five days a week and is open from 9:30am to 12:30pm on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
Recipients were grateful for the donation as were the shop’s volunteers who thanked the community for their ongoing support which allowed them to give this financial support to the wider community.