The Salvation Army marches online, launching eBay store

THEY RAISED over $6.7 million for bushfire relief, and launched their first online auction site on eBay - it's all in a week's work for The Salvation Army.

These bookends are available on The Salvos eBay story.

THEY raised over $6.7 million for bushfire relief and launched their first online auction site on eBay - it's all in a week's work for one of Australia's most trusted charities, The Salvation Army.

Known and loved across the world for their Salvos stores, The Salvation Army have taken the plunge into the digital world with a site powered through eBay.

The site - which is the first of its kind - will have the usual op shop fare, but will also feature specially selected vintage furniture items and antiques that have been donated to My Salvos Stores across the Eastern Territory. These items will be available to buy outright or bid on, just like any other eBay item - and the beauty of the My Salvos Stores on eBay is that you'll still be supporting the work the Salvos do in the community.

"I can't think of the last time I was inspired or excited like I have been since coming on board with The Salvos and this eBay store," ambassador Barry Du Bois said at last night's launch.

"Going online is a fantastic concept for the Salvos. The fact that pieces are going to be chosen specifically for the eBay site really resonates with me. I love working with furniture, I love going down to my local Salvos store and hunting for things, and the fact that we can now do that online and still have the money go to such important causes is really exciting," he said.

Items like this clock, dresser and china, which were on display at the event, will be available online.

Every week, The Salvation Army provide 100,000 meals for the hungry; 2,000 beds for the homeless; 3,000 elderly people with aged care services; and refuge for 500 victims of abuse. In addition to this, The Salvation Army are widely respected for their drug and alcohol rehabilitation work, as well as the assistance they provide for people in crisis, as seen in the recent NSW bushfires where they drove ten tonne trucks up to the Blue Mountains daily, filled with clothing, personal hygiene products and food. Proceeds from items sold on the My Salvos eBay story will go directly to The Salvation Army to continue supporting work like this.

"In the TV world or in the media world, often we can lose sight of what's really important, but this has brought me back to earth," said Du Bois, who stars in Channel Ten's The Living Room.

"If there's anyone who doesn't want an initiative like this to work, I'm on another planet. Let's all get behind this."

To start shopping, head to salvosstores.salvos.org.au/