It looks likely that the Samaritan Shop will match, if not surpass the funds raised by the Somali Shop in 2012/13. Run by the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast (SJASC) over $30,000 has been raised in just 14 days and 100 per cent of it will be going to help local people in need.
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The Samaritan Shop is housed in the Masonic Lodge, Toalla Street, Pambula. Open the door and walk in to an Aladdin’s cave of pre-loved furniture, books, jewellery, linen, china and toys. There are gems such as the china tiger valued at much more than its asking price, a Victorian style hall stand and Parker leather sofas. On Thursday a complex weight exercise machine had just arrived on the back of a trailer and there were hopes that it would be sold before the day was out.
Mick Brosnan, of Millingandi, one of the organisers of the shop and a member of the SJASC said that the donations to the shop had been excellent.
Mr Brosnan said: “An Eden agency had to downsize and we were given pavers, solar power equipment, generators, pumps and fridge. The first week we spent a lot of the time just unloading it all.”
That one source of donations helped the Samaritan Shop to make $10,000, Mr Brosnan said. The shop and organisers have also been helped by Sapphire Coast Hire who gave the fencing around the yard, the Bendigo Bank which is paying the rent and power bills for the shop and the Masons.
The money made at the shop will all be used to support people in the Bega Valley who need help. Mr Brosnan explained that there were two issues that were pushing low income families into crisis and they were the cost of rent and the cost of power.
The shop will support those in need with help towards rent and the distribution of food. Mr Brosnan said that this wasn’t something they were doing alone but were working in with other agencies and groups.
The bustling atmosphere of the shop was evident on Thursday as buyers eagerly strapped items such as leather lounges on the back of a truck and sellers came in with details of something to donate.
Organiser and member of SJASC, John Liston, of Pambula, said: “This is like a community event. A lot of people come in for a chat.”
All donations over $2 are tax deductible. The shop is open from 9am-5pm until January 31.
Contact Philip Jacobs on 6495 0365 if you would like to help in any way or for more information.
