The fabulous volunteers of the San Remo Opportunity Shop have raised more than $1 million for Bass Coast Health (BCH).
Fundraising by the Op Shop Auxiliary has enabled BCH to buy vital medical equipment to enhance care to the community.
“Since 2016, we have donated to the L. Rigby Centre for cancer care, District Nurses, Dental Clinic and Maternity services, as well as items like scanners, an ultrasound machine, adjustable beds, chemotherapy chairs, cars, two haemodialysis chairs with armrests, syringe drivers, a bilirubin meter and furniture for Griffiths Point Lodge residential care centre, just to name some,” President Sara Fleisner said.
While the Op Shop Auxiliary has raised the spectacular amount of $1,187,725 since its formation in 2016, that sum is even more impressive when you consider many items are sold for just a few dollars!
BCH Interim CEO, Professor Simone Alexander, said the health service, and the broader community, valued the dedication and contribution of the op shop volunteers.
“Through their hard work and commitment, we’re able to purchase state of the art equipment to help us provide more services to our community, closer to their homes, and for that, we’re truly grateful,” she said.
The shop also supports other charities by donating goods, such as prescription spectacles to the Fred Hollows Foundation; damaged wetsuits to the Lymphedema Foundation to make compression socks; and books to Bill’s Shed, which raises funds for Melaleuca Lodge at Cowes.
Personal care products are given to women’s refuges and Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre; stationery and craft materials are sent to after school care groups; clothing to Armitage House Sub-Acute Ward at Wonthaggi Hospital for patients who arrive with little or no belongings; and jackets are given to the homeless through the San Remo Bendigo Bank’s annual collection.
Electrical goods are sent to the Rotary Op Shop at Cowes; socks and underwear are donated to kindergartens and primary schools; and outfits are given to Bass Coast College for Book Week activities.
The Op Shop is full of surprises. There is clothing and shoes for everyone, and also bric-a-brac, jigsaw puzzles, games, books, magazines, sporting equipment, kitchenware, toys and more.
“We’re proud of our work, which not only raises money for equipment and projects at Bass Coast Health, but also provides a source of cheap clothing and household goods for the public, while preventing usable goods from going into landfill,” Sara said.
The Op Shop is serviced by 24 volunteers and has two other sources of income. One is a successful eBay shop where more valuable goods are sold and is run by volunteer Lorraine Ingbritsen. You can find the shop by searching for ‘Lorrainespreloved’ on ebay.com.au
The other income source is Statewide Cleaning Cloths. Clothing not suitable to sell is collected by Statewide, which pays a small stipend for each bag collected.
Volunteers enjoy interacting with the community and each other, recycling goods to reduce waste, helping underprivileged people and sharing in the team spirit.
“They also especially love it when customers come from other places and say they always come in when they’re here because it’s the best op shop!” Secretary Marj Wagland said.
The Op Shop was originally run from the foyer of the old San Remo Hall until the shop opened in its current location in 1992. A second shop was added in the 1990s. The shop originally raised funds for the San Remo and District Community Health Centre, which was later renamed Bass Coast Community Health. This organisation later amalgamated with Bass Coast Regional Health, which operated Wonthaggi Hospital, to become Bass Coast Health.
Among the original members were Doris Legg, Myra St Clair, Eileen Dwyer, Kath Fellows, and Bill and Marion Lawrence.
During the 1990s, a Steering Committee was formed to help run the shop and direct where funds were spent. Most funds were initially used for improvements and equipment at the San Remo site. In 2016, an op shop auxiliary was formed.
The auxiliary’s founding committee was President Marj Powell, Vice-President Sara Fleisner, Secretary Marj Wagland, Treasurer Lorraine Ingbritsen and committee members Jenny Lacco, Sandra Thorley and Jean Dunstan. Helen Andrews and Joan Ray joined the committee in 2017, Janine Morris in 2022 and Caroline Talbot in 2023.
The current committee is President Sara Fleisner, Vice-President Joan Ray, Secretary Marj Wagland, Treasurer Caroline Talbot with Helen Andrews, Sandra Thorley, Janine Morris and Joanne Linton as committee members.
The San Remo Opportunity Shop is open Monday-Friday, 10am-2.30pm, at 65D Back Beach Road, San Remo.