THE community wins after a local op shop raised close to $650 after their annual Christmas raffle was drawn on Wednesday last week.
The Southern Mitchell Rotary Recycle Op Shop began selling tickets in early November and offered more than 24 prizes. In between, more prizes were donated from local businesses (and generous benefactors) and actually there were 41 prizes to win.
Op Shop Manager Lisa Walker said the community is the winner and the money raised will support people in crisis over the holidays.
“The money will go directly to helping locals this Christmas through Love in Action (LIA),” she said.
“We raised $628. We also donate to the schools’ breakfasts, lunch and dinners programs (depending on the school), and from time to time we assist LIA to provide vouchers for school shoes.”
The Rotary Op Shop shared $300 with the Wallan Neighbourhood House yesterday.
Manager at the Wallan Neighbourhood House Pauline Cornish said for individuals and families in crisis over the holidays, food relief is just a phone call away.
“We are closed from Tuesday, December 24 at 3pm and reopen on Thursday, January 2 at 9am. We are a Centrelink agent and can help with payment and service information for Medicare, Centrelink, and Child Support,” she said.
In the meantime LIA volunteers are distributing Christmas hampers across Mitchell Shire, and their Facebook pages are a resource for people experiencing a crisis.
To contact Ms Cornish, phone 0409 941 553.
The Southern Mitchell Rotary Recycle Op Shop is located at Shop 6/84-86 Sydney St, Kilmore, and will reopen on Monday January 6 as usual. Monday to Friday 9.30am—3.00pm, Saturday 9.30am—12.30pm, and closed Sunday.
