Foster opp shops open three days a week

BOTH branches of Foster’s Prom Community Opp Shop are trading three days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and now on Fridays, too!

The affectionately-known Little Opp Shop at 18 Main Street, near the Foster Post Office, and the Garage Sale Outlet (GSO) at 78 Main Street, opposite the Foster Police Station, are open to local and visiting bargain-hunters from 10 am and 4 pm. 

COVID-safe restrictions still apply at the two Opp Shop sites, including contact tracing, hand-sanitiser stations, and social distancing.

The GSO still has a separate entrance and exit, and, while its generally large and spacious layout means that face masks are not required inside for the moment at least, customers are welcome to wear them if they so choose.

Masks must still be donned in the Little Opp Shop however because its smaller area, though a rearrangement of the floor space now allows up to eight customers in the shop at any one time. The Little’s change room is also available again as well.

GSO duty manager Wendie Youl said the Prom Community Opp Shop had established COVID-19 pandemic response team to oversee the running of both sites.

“We all want to make sure the shops are operating safely for the volunteers and for our customers and donors,” she said.

“Everyone certainly seems to be glad that there’s much more opportunity to snare a bargain or a special treasure here in Foster!”

All proceeds from the Little Opp Shop and the GSO are shared equally between Prom Country Aged Care and Linton Court Retirement Village, and both organisations are grateful for the ongoing support of the local community.

“Donations that have come in to date have ensured that there’s great ranges of goods for customers to fossick through at both of the shops, and they’re being added to constantly,” Wendie said.

“The GSO is the drop-off point for all donations, during opening hours only, please! 

“We’re always happy to receive good quality items that are clean and undamaged, and all donated electrical goods need to be complete and in excellent condition,” she said.

“Regrettably, due to lack of space, the GSO is still unable to take large pieces of furniture, and the Little Opp Shop is not accepting donations at all for the time being.

“Prom Community Opp Shop is always on the lookout for volunteers, especially for the GSO, and if we could get more regular volunteers, we would be open more often,” Wendy said.

“We’re keen to open on weekends again as well, but we need more people to help!”

New volunteer Peter Andersen was manning the GSO’s entrance on Friday March 12, and he was happy to “offer some of my time to the Opp Shops, which give so much back to the local community and raise funds for people in need.” 

Interested in offering a hand to the Prom Community Opp Shop? Don’t hesitate to contact the volunteer coordinator Di Szwaja on 0417303505.

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