What’s been happening in the Look First Op Shop?
From Horizons – Local and Beyond Inc, The Buloke Times
During the year, the Op Shop has seen the renovations of new carpet on the shop floor, the rearrangement of the displays and a new kitchen/sorting room floor! This was possible courtesy of a grant from FRRR, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and the kitchen floor courtesy of the white ants/flooding from a burst hotwater service and the subsequent insurance!
There are now 18 volunteers contributing to the work of running the Op Shop, each person has unique skills and creative talents to contribute. As members of the committee, each has been able to suggest where the finance goes. This year has seen $15,590 donated to 24 Donald organisations.
The local recipients have been Donald P&A Society, Good Feed, VRI Hall, Donald Learning Group (Mental Health needs), Donald 2000 Mural, High School (Energy Break Through), Chamber of Commerce, Donald Friends and Neighbours, Salvation Army Christmas Appeal, Prison Fellowship – Angel Tree Appeal (Christmas gifts for the children of Victorian prisoners), Christmas Carols, Granite Community Church, St George’s Anglican, St Mary’s Vinnies, Granite Youth Group, Donald Red Gate Community Garden, Netball Club, Hockey Club, Junior Football Club, Donald Art and Photography Show, Senior Citizens, Goodwin Village (lifestyle activities), Donald Tennis Club, Donald Amateur Basketball, Jeffcott Junior Cricket, WOW (after school program), Teen Challenge (alcohol and drug rehabilitation), Destiny Rescue (girls caught up in the sex trade).
Overseas
Overseas donations have been sent to Indonesia, supporting a child who has been able to attend school and receive helpful items, and to Ukraine and Niger with boxes of jumpers, beanies, scarves, bandages.
Donations for Humanitarian Aid have been sent to Compassion Aust for the victims of the September typhoon/flooding/earthquake in the Philippines and to Samaritan Purse’s for aid to Gaza.
The Ukraine Appeal is still an important component of Horizons – Local and Beyond.
The Committee will endeavour to maintain this Appeal as long as the War continues; the families are still suffering.
Many of the donations for the appeal have come in from people living outside our local area.
The donations have been sent into Ukraine via personal contacts who have passed the donations on to the people who are in need.
They have used the funds for practical help for soldiers on the frontline, veterans who are maimed, events/picnics for families and children who have lost their fathers, husbands, sons on the frontline, soldiers in hospital, special warming insoles for soldiers’ boots, medicines for the frontline troops and other practical needs.
Currently, Christmas gifts – e.g. hug toys for traumatised children and children with missing parent/s – are being bought to distribute closer to Christmas.
If you would like to remember the families affected by the Ukraine War, please send your donation to: BSB 633000, Acc 164448821, Reference Ukraine Appeal.
The Donald Shared Shop situated as part of Bev’s Baubles, 81 Woods St. hosts used furniture. This feature is managed by Look First Op Shop with many lovely and practical pieces of furniture. Have you been in lately to look around?
The team of Horizons – Local and Beyond appreciate everyone who patronises the Look First Op Shop. We look forward to your continued support. The committee was surprised to learn of the considerable drop in income in the last 15 weeks. The first thought was for the other retailers in the Donald main street. Please shop local.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 25 November 2025.
