Community support drives op-shop extension

A Nambour op-shop overwhelmed with community generosity extends store.

OP-SHOP: Aus Living Support CEO Ian Harrison and marketing director Dessi Mitzeva in the new section of their Nambour op-shop.

A NAMBOUR op-shop that was overwhelmed with the generosity of the town’s donations shortly after opening, has now extended their store.

The Aus Living Support op-shop has introduced 15 new clothing racks, bringing their shop space to 720sq m.

Aus Living Support CEO Ian Harrison said the store, which aimed to reduce local homelessness and offer support, had exceeded all expectations.

“It’s not that long ago that we actually opened and now we are a huge store with lots of stock, lots of customers lots of dollars coming in and we are just blown away we thought it would take at least a year,” he said.

“We started with a fairly small store and we didn’t have enough volunteers to help out, but since then we have volunteers in from the local community that have been donating their time and on top of that the Nambour community has been donating so much product that we had to get it out because we were running out of warehouse space.

“We put in about 15 new huge clothing racks and filled those, we have put in another four or five bric-a-brac racks and more furniture.”

The charity’s profits will be used to fund more transitional homes and a rental supplement scheme that helps those on the brink of homelessness.

Aus Living Support CEO Ian Harrison said the rental scheme project worked to reduce the strain on other services by preventing homelessness.

“There are no real supplement schemes out there for people that are struggling … but our rental supplement scheme will reduce the amount of people becoming homeless so that’s the one that has got the most excitement,” Mr Harrison said.

The two-fold scheme will pay $200 a week directly to the recipient’s landlord for a guaranteed period of one year before being reassessed.

Mr Harrison said the new extension led the way for the programs.

“It gives us a little bit more cash to get the projects up and running, to do them efficiently we need more people coming through the door, but it has given us the opportunity to start looking at getting those projects up and running,” he said.

Mr Harrison said if people were looking for a way to give back to the community volunteering at the shop was the perfect way to do it.

“Now more than ever we need more volunteers because we are such a large store,” he said.

“Even if they can spare an hour or two, we would be happy to have a discussion and see if they can come in because it’s a big thing for us if someone comes in for two hours.

“What we want our volunteers to remember is that we are a local charity, started by locals and we are helping locals so anything happening here is a direct impact on the homeless situation within the local community.”

Located on Howard Street in Nambour the op-shop also boasts an underground carpark.