Most of us would know the satisfaction that comes with nabbing an op shop bargain.
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They’re a popular hotspot for savvy shoppers, but the satisfaction of op shopping goes far beyond scoring a good deal.
As part of National Op Shops Week, the Eden community is being reminded that the Joey’s Jumbles and Anglicare stores on Imlay Street operate in support of charity, while also providing a chance for those who may not be able to afford brand new clothes to pick up some affordable clobber.
Joey’s Jumbles, in Angela’s Arcade, supports the Mary MacKillop Hall and Lumen Christi Catholic College, while Anglicare Eden works in aid of Anglicare and the Sapphire Coast Anglican Parish.
“Where a lot of people used to throw things out or take them to the tip, they now bring them here,” Joey’s Jumbles’ Pat Heffernan said.
“No children should be without clothes, because there are always plenty available.
“If you can’t afford new clothes, this is a good little place to come, and if people can’t afford them, we do help them out.
“You would be surprised at some of the items that come into the shop; often they’re next to new, if not brand new.”
Anglicare Eden’s Flo Young agrees, saying the process works both ways, and also gives people the opportunity to reduce waste and donate their old gear.
“It’s also an outlet for people to drop things off and not just throw them away,” she said.
“Sometimes they’re just things that people have grown out of, or something that they’ve only worn once and probably won’t wear again.
“They’re much better off here than in the bin.
“We’ve also got books, and we have people that come in at least once a week to look at what we’ve got available.”
National Op Shop Week runs from Sunday, August 24 until Sunday, August 31.
Australian charity recyclers divert 2billion items – over 300,000 tonnes – of clothing from landfill each year through clothing donation bins and in-store donations.