AFTER thirty-seven Christmases in operation, the Ballarat Combined Charities Card Shop closed for the last time in December.<\/p>\n
Denise Boyko has been involved for 17 years and has coordinated the initiative for the last five.<\/p>\n
She said the shop\u2019s team of 40 volunteers sold $18,000 worth of cards, crafts, tea towels, gifts, and plants in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re returning those funds to the 27 charities we\u2019ve supported this year. We haven\u2019t retained any of our takings this year because we\u2019re not ongoing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocally, The SoupBus is receiving $2400, different units at Ballarat Health services have been supported sharing $2000, Berry Street is receiving $1700, $270 was raised for the 3BA Christmas Appeal through selling cake decorators\u2019 recipe books, and pieces made by the Sheilas\u2019 Shed raised $360 for the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year was really successful, particularly with the support of the craft items and local ladies creating gifts and decorations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the Shop first opened in the 80s, 150 \u201cfabulous\u201d people from across the region have volunteered to sell cards and gifts in the weeks before Christmas, and the shoppers popping in have been loyal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had feedback from our customers saying that they\u2019re disappointed we\u2019re closing, because some of them have been coming for years and years, so that was a bit sad,\u201d Ms Boyko said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOthers who had seen publicity and knew we were closing came in and doubled up what they were buying. We sold 750 tea towels and had to go back and order another 250.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Boyko said the shop has provided \u201cinvaluable\u201d boosts to a \u201chuge variety of charities,\u201d and created a social space, since Connie Sadler first launched it.<\/p>\n
Ms Sadler also coordinated the initiative for at least 30 years to follow.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been an important income source for the charities, and a focus for people who wanted to support those charities,\u201d Ms Boyko said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you spend your money, it\u2019s great to know that you\u2019re also supporting a good cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the volunteers, it\u2019s been a lovely social, feel-good activity and a boost to morale. Some ladies meet up every week and have afternoon tea, and where possible, we\u2019ve tried to roster people so they can work with friends they haven\u2019t seen for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Based at the St John\u2019s Lutheran Church in recent years, Ms Boyko said that location has worked well, also supporting the Church community which hasn\u2019t been able to run their garage sales throughout the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve touched a lot of communities in many different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
At 2.30pm on Wednesday, 30 March, volunteers and the broader Shop community will enjoy a casual afternoon tea at the Ballarat Golf Club to celebrate their achievements over the last 37 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER thirty-seven Christmases in operation, the Ballarat Combined Charities Card Shop closed for the last time in December. Denise Boyko has been involved for 17 years and has coordinated the initiative for the last five. She said the shop\u2019s team of 40 volunteers sold $18,000 worth of cards, crafts, tea towels, gifts, and plants in […]<\/p>\n