BUDDIES Op Shop has sought to be a source of community support and second-hand goods for more than two decades.<\/p>\n
Co-ordinator Howard Mason said the treasure trove of pre-loved items had been its current location in Budd hall, next to St John\u2019s church at Heathcote, since the mid-2000s.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt started as a monthly mini market in early the 1990s,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a fundraiser and we used to have it out in the grounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea behind Buddies is to sell low-cost goods at a reasonable price to the community, but it’s also a place that wants to be a good neighbour, a place of hospitality, listening and engagement with the people that come in.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou hear their stories, everyone’s got a story, although you don’t always hear them straight away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of the people who come in and talk to us aren\u2019t looking for practical help, they just appreciate that you\u2019re listening to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heather Zakrzewski has been a St Johns parishioner for many years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve always been involved with Buddies one way or the other,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter my husband died and I got to the stage where I needed to out into the community and pick up my life again, I started volunteering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Zakrzewski said she\u2019s been working in the shop since 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best part is helping the customers to find what they need and also the fellowship with the other people who work here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe often get ladies come in who are looking for a special outfit for a wedding or a party,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey pick out things and they try them on, and we help them to dress themselves up and that’s a lot of fun. They appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Mason said there had been many surprises over the years but one of the most memorable was the donation of a pole-dancing pole.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually it’s a competition sport,\u201d he said. \u201cThe lady who brought it in said she had bought a new one so would we like the old one?<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I didn\u2019t know what we’d do with it, but somebody bought it, somebody local.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buddies receives about 200 kilograms of clothing donations each week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe sort out what goes in the shop,\u201d Mr Mason said. \u201cThe surplus goes overseas, through a company, for rags and second-hand clothing, but we recycle as much as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parish treasurer Pam Mason said Buddies currently had a team of 12 helpers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey do a terrific job,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mr Mason echoed her sentiments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt couldn’t operate without our wonderful, dedicated volunteers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BUDDIES Op Shop has sought to be a source of community support and second-hand goods for more than two decades. Co-ordinator Howard Mason said the treasure trove of pre-loved items had been its current location in Budd hall, next to St John\u2019s church at Heathcote, since the mid-2000s. \u201cIt started as a monthly mini market […]<\/p>\n