St Helens Neighbourhood House manager Trish O’Duffy said Op Shop is the gift that keeps giving.

“Our Op Shop is well utilised and a much-loved hub of our community – community members from all walks of life call into the shop every day to buy or donate goods,” Ms O’Duffy said.  

“Every penny that is donated goes back into the community, every quarter we provide funds to community groups and organisations such as SES for a defibrillator, the hospital for medical equipment and sports groups for equipment.

“It contributes towards programs that the house runs to reduce social isolation and maintain health and well-being such as our dance fit and community fit classes.”

Ms O’Duffy said the shop had been at capacity for a long time.  

“We just did not have the funds to extend. So when this wonderful opportunity came along we were so excited, the requirement was that we had to match contributions in cash - a dollar-for-dollar basis,” she said.

The extension is expected to be finished by the end of March. 

Ms O’Duffy said the volunteers had been wonderful working through a building site. 

“Our volunteers always have a ready smile for everyone and make each customer feel important, always remembering little details and asking after their health, their families in general how their customers are travelling,” she said.  

To receive the grant, the organisation had to go through an expressions of interest process. 

“Included in our application was also the purchasing of giant games that we believed would help foster and strengthen community spirit when we had special event days,” she said. 

“The builder Phil Watts and his team have been absolutely wonderful, doing the work in such a way so that the shop can remain open, and even working on weekends.”

The $13,000 grant was supported by Eric Hutchinson, who was then a Member of Parliament. 

The grant was approved in late 2015.