THEY probably don’t realise it but thrifty shoppers and people donating to op shops could be helping save lives in Warrnambool.
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As part of National Op Shop Week, Lifeline South West CEO Meredith Ericson said residents could support the region’s suicide prevention and crisis support services just by doing a spring clean and donating preloved clothing, bric-a-brac and furniture items.
“As a charity organisation, we depend on the generosity of our community to sustain our vital, lifesaving services across the south-west,” she said. “There are many ways community members can contribute: donating quality clothing or household items, volunteering at one of our shops or warehouse, purchasing goods from our shops, or donating financially to Lifeline South West.
“Businesses can also get in involved through product philanthropy - donating unwanted trading stock, or through sponsorship of Lifeline South West.”
She said the community’s generosity had helped Lifeline South West answer more than 12,000 calls last year to its telephone crisis support service on 13 11 14.
“Compared to previous years, our donations are extremely low to date, that’s why we are asking the community to get involved in National Op Shop Week,” she said. “Without these donations, Lifeline South West will cease to exist.”
Lifeline Op Shop co-ordinator Bev Gleeson has volunteered at the Warrnambool store for two years after retiring from a career in retail and spending six years at the St Vinnie’s op shop.
“I get a lot out of it by volunteering,” she said. “It’s nice to put back into the community. It’s my way of saying ‘thank you’.
“All the money goes back into our telephone counselling so we do rely on the community for donations.”
Mrs Gleeson said all types of people shopped at their store, for anything from clothes and jewellery to furniture.
“We’re able to provide the best service we possibly can for everybody who comes through our doors,” she said.
“We talk to a lot of different kinds of people who pass through. I really enjoy it because I’m a people person.”
The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, Red Cross and Brophy Family and Youth Services also operate op shops in Warrnambool.
This year the Koroit Lions Club opened the town’s first op shop, while Camperdown and Terang each have community-based thrift shops.
