Tom Parry
A NEW opportunity shop, or Thrift Shop, is set to open in Sale.
The Salvation Army is currently putting the final touches on its new charity store, located in the former Rivers outlet on 221 Raymond Street.
The location of the new store is the result of an 18-month search after a fire gutted the previous Thrift Shop on Cunninghame Street.
According to Salvation Army Thrift Shop Consultant Aaron Rausch, the size and location of the Raymond Street building were key reasons for its selection.
“We had looked at a number of places in Sale, but we wanted something that’s large, because the amount of donations we get is crazy,” Mr Rausch said.
“We’ve got lots of parking out the back, it’s very busy out the front, there’s the bakery next door, it’s a great retail area – it just seems to be right in the heart of Sale… (and) exactly where we need to be.”
The new Thrift Shop will be managed by local resident Aly, who described her job as one of her “dream roles”.
“I’m a frequent op shopper… I go to Traralgon, Bairnsdale and spoil to local op shops,” Aly said.
“When I saw there was a role to be managing one, I thought all of my dreams had come true!”
Photo: Contributed
She will be assisted by a group of volunteers to run the Shop who, in ‘Salvos’ tradition, come from all walks of life.
“The volunteers will come here because they’ve been long-term unemployed or people that might need to build-up their skills,” Mr Rausch said.
For instance, a volunteer might want to learn how to use a cash register, a skill which can easily be transferred to paid employment elsewhere.
Mr Rausch added: “We also give people chances to have meaningful things in their day.”
“We can help skill them up and… find really fulfilling days of work for them,” he explained.
The Thrift Shop is currently on the lookout for “between 20 and 30” volunteers to assist with running the store who are able to contribute four-to-five hours of their time per shift.
“The perfect volunteer is just someone generally with a really good attitude that’s happy, and just wants to be a part of what we’re doing, because it’s a pretty relaxed place to work – it’s a good, fun place,” Mr Rausch said.
“We want it to be (a workplace) where people can sit around, have a cup of coffee, have a Tim-Tam and all that sort of stuff.”
Aly is looking forward is looking forward to her new role as manager, and “seeing something different every day”.
“The op shop’s always constantly changing – you never know what you’re going to find, which is awesome,” she said.
The new Salvation Army Thrift Shop will officially open on March 23.
To become a volunteer at the store, call Aly on 0498 819 839.
