ADRA Victoria Opens New Op Shop in Garfield
Article originally published in the Pakenham Gazette
Published
Garfield has a new op shop with the unveiling of ADRA’s new spot to expand their help of the most vulnerable in the community.
The grand opening was on Tuesday 18 June and was joined by Mayor Kowarzik and Deputy Mayor Moore.
The ADRA Op Shop moved from Bunyip where it operated since September 2022. Mary Meyer has been managing the centre as a volunteer.
In the space of a year, the op shop has donated over $20,000 in both in-kind and financial support to programs that help people in need.
Within Garfield, the work will continue as funds raised will go back into local programs that support people in need.
“It won’t just be an Op Shop, it can also support people by giving out clothing and other necessities,” ADRA Director Rebecca Auriant said.
“Its purpose is to raise funds for people in need in the local community, the partnership with Moy-Yan will add value through their food program, the Garfield Artists Club and the various programs that aim to provide more social inclusion.”
The op shop will complement the overall work of Moy-Yan who already run several social programs for the community over the past two decades, as well as help ADRA’s further work in Cardinia such as their weekly outreach bus in Pakenham.
Mayor Kowarzik said he was proud to have cut the ribbon in the official opening.
"Very proud and excited to have what is now a really great partnership with Moy-Yan and ADRA at this Scout Hall," he said.
"We saw firsthand in Cardinia Shire the impact that ADRA had in the response to the storms that we had recently up in Emerald."
The ADRA Op Shop Garfield is located at the Garfield Scout Hall at 1 Beswick Street, Garfield.
