Op shop needs help on both sides of counter

IF you’re partial to bargain secondhand goods, an op shop nestled between the Cal Gully Takeaway and California Gully Quality Meats on Eaglehawk Road has them in spades.

The MADCOW (Make a Difference, Change Our World) Op Shop – formerly R&J Moss Auto Electrics – opens from a single shopfront into an expansive, brightly-lit warehouse space, and to those in the know has become one of the best places to thrift in town since its conversion in August 2023.

It stocks everything from women’s clothing to jewellery, books and bric a brac, electronics, furniture, hardware and homewares, artworks and haberdashery, bedding and mattresses.

All profits from the store go towards MADCOW’s suite of homeless services, which operate from the charity’s central Bendigo (and previous op shop) site at 214 Hargreaves Street.

Inaugural CEO Matt Parkinson said “it’s a really important thing” that all monies raised never leave the postcode.

“We have great people, we have great stock, and it all stays local and goes to our homeless services, every cent of it,” he said.

He said the charity’s assistance is needed now more than ever, as Bendigo’s rough sleeper numbers continue to grow.

“It’s gotten worse, it’s difficult to navigate,” he said. “There’s been an increase in what we see as drug use, there’s been an increase in mental health concerns for people on the street. It’s a hard life out there.”

Mr Parkinson said his organisation receives no government funding and relies heavily on the help of volunteers.

“It’s busy and it would be great to have another paid staff position in there, but at the same time there’s always room for more volunteers,” he said.

“It’s ongoing and there’s quite a range of opportunities for people to serve with MADCOW.

“It’s a big process finding people with the skills to identify what donations are worth, for example we get lots of volunteers that perhaps can’t do that, but they can go and put stuff on the racks.

“If they’ve got an interest in bric-a-brac, clothes or furniture, they’ll happily sort that too. We’ve got volunteers with our catering and youth theatre as well.”

The shop, at 315 Eaglehawk Road, is open from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on Saturdays.