Op shops are booming in Wauchope, with people coming in by train and car to do a bit of thrifty retail therapy, and help a good cause at the same time.
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The Lifeline charity provides 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services and it supports families and friends after a suicide has happened.
The Lifeline op shop in Wauchope is a hive of activity, and the money raised there is used to help provide the charity’s 24-hour helpline for people in distress.
If people come into the shop looking for help, staff direct them to the helpline number – 13 11 14. The charity has seen an increase in calls from dairy farmers recently, because of the milk crisis. People can ring for counselling and also other help like food vouchers.
Our role is to try and raise as much money as possible to pass back to Lifeline Mid-coast.
- Adrienne van Spanje
“Our role is to try and raise as much money as possible to pass back to Lifeline Mid-coast. Lifeline have a 24-hour service in Port Macquarie,” says Adrienne van Spanje who manages the op shop in Cameron Street.
Her job is to increase sales and donations so they have more stock to sell in Wauchope.
They always gets lots of donations after a long weekend, because that’s when people tend to clear clutter from their houses.
The charity has a bin at the IGA in Bransdon Street.
They have a five-day a week pick-up and delivery service so the message is: don’t send it to the tip. Lifeline will pick it up.
They collect clothes, towels, bedding, books, pot plants, cutlery, crockery, bric-a-brac and furniture.
“There are six op shops and two vintage shops near us, and it’s competition and it brings people in which is great.
“Some customers catch the train down from Kempsey and do the op shops. We are more than happy to see them,” said Adrienne.
At the minute, the Lifeline shop in Wauchope is being re-vamped. Running it is a big operation. Adrienne is in charge of 28 volunteers.
“Some help out, others are satisfying their mutual obligations with Centrelink, some are from Work for the Dole, and others are on community service through the Parole Board.” she explained.
“One good thing about op shops is that you can satisfy your retail therapy needs at a great price,” she smiled.
The shop throws away as little as possible, and what they can’t sell, they give to the Third World.