For five years the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast have run an amazing operation, the Samaritan Op Shop.
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During this time they have raised more than $200,000 for the local community and beyond.
The annual Samaritan Op Shop is open for a number of weeks in December and January each year at Pambula, but now, thanks to the generous donations from the community, the Social Justice Advocates have decided to hold a mid-year sale.
The garages opposite the Masonic Hall in Pambula will be jam packed with quality items for sale for two days only over the June long weekend, Saturday and Sunday June 11 and 12.
All proceeds from this mini Samaritan Op Shop will go towards local community work helping the homeless and needy.
Social Justice Advocate Mick Brosnan said he is also proud to report that the money raised from the second annual Op Shop, which was known as the Somalian Op Shop, has gone to good use.
Around $50,000 was taken by Social Justice Advocates Vin Bray, John Liston and Mr Brosnan to Kitali in North West Kenya.
The three men chose to invest some of the money in the building of a small dormitory and toilet block for severely handicapped children.
“The rest of the funds went to setting up an investment fund for young mothers who, having been raped and ostracised from their communities, have been unable to get the education they need to survive,” Mr Brosnan said.
“They are now being guided to education and micro businesses with the support from the Social Justice Advocates investment fund.”
From this direct overseas response to war, famine and the consequences of these in Somalia, the Social Justice Advocates have since concentrated their support work to within our local shire with homeless as the group’s major concern.
Funds raised from their Op Shops go straight back into the community, most notably to the crisis shelter at Merimbula, the operation of three caravans as crisis accommodation and general support and furniture for the needy around the shire throughout the year, which Mr Brosnan said is in growing demand.
The mini Op Shop will be open from 8.30am until 4pm on Saturday, June 11 and from 9am to 12pm on Sunday, June 12.
Mr Brosnan said that there were several ways people could contribute to the work of the op shop, either by donating goods or money, coming in to shop for a bargain or volunteering to work in the shop.
Anyone who is interested in helping out with the Op Shop of the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast is asked to call Mick Brosnan on 0410 697 229.
