Opportunity that knocked for the wider community

Plus it has recently gifted $2000 to the Campaspe Family Violence Action Group.

‘‘We’ve been running the shop at a low cost for all of the community, so any profit we make we try to give back to the community,’’ Lifesource Church Echuca pastor Aaron Wallace said.

‘‘The specialist school stood out to us at the end of last year. We noticed other community groups were giving to them for different projects so we decided to jump alongside that.’’

ESS principal Paul Marshall thanked the op shop for the generous donation.

‘‘We’re just over the moon,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re so fortunate to have such great support throughout the community with so many organisations that help us out both financially and with their time.’’

Pastor Aaron said the op shop endeavoured to be the cheapest in town so everyone could afford to shop there.

‘‘We really want to put the ‘opportunity’ back in op shop,’’ he said. ‘‘We only make a profit so we can give it away, it’s not about making money. The vision of the whole church is to serve the community and that vision doesn’t stop here. Our vision statement is ‘we serve with love to give life’ — and it’s not love if we’re overcharging people.’’

Op shop manager Christiane Clifford is one of eight friendly volunteers who keep the shop in ship shape. She said in addition to giving to the two groups, the op shop and church had also raised more than $2500 for food and women’s essentials for farmers in need.

‘‘We’ve also helped foster parents by buying them non-perishable food at Christmas time,’’ she said.