Every donation counts for Eve
DRIVEN by a waste-not, want-not philosophy, Eve O’Brien is the perfect person to be running an op shop.
The manager of the Adventist Op Shop and Community Centre in Bosanko St, Westcourt, Eve doesn’t take any donations for granted.
“We operate with a zero waste policy where possible,” she says. “I think that’s just a personal philosophy of mine that I’ve brought to the centre and I’ve overlaid that over the way the shop operates.
“Before I took over, the skip bin here was always full.
“Now, we hardly throw anything out unless it’s totally soiled. Everything we can give to people, rather than it go to waste, we do,” she says.
“All our school uniforms are passed on to Centacare’s School Savvy Pop-up Shop to help families in need and we offer free corporate wear to job seekers,” Eve says.
“We also supply the emergency department at the hospital with clothing for people in need of a change before discharge.”
The Adventist Op Shop has been operating for four years with Eve running it voluntarily for the past two years.
“We sell clothes and bric-abrac to raise funds for welfare work, community projects and give food vouchers to those in need,” Eve says.
The opportunity shop also supports Medisonships, an international aid organisation that provides humanitarian help in the Solomon Islands.
“They run these small boats on coconut oil. That’s why I like it because we’re into anything that’s environmentally friendly,” Eve says.
As well as clothing and brica-brac, the Adventist Op Shop also sells donated furniture.
Eve scours Marketplace on Facebook in search of good quality free items.
“We have to sell the furniture quickly, so we sell it cheaply, which helps local people in the area who otherwise can’t get good furniture and we deliver it very cheaply.
“But I also sell through
Marketplace on Facebook. I find my time is better spent sorting out donations and selling online, rather than being in the retail shop.”
Eve says the centre makes good use of a donated washing machine, dryer and clothes line to clean items and save them from landfill.
“We even take up pants for men, save old cushions and pillows to recover them and I’m happy for people to drop in for a chat or a cup of tea.
“I have a social work background, which I’ve used for life, as well as employment.”
The Adventist Community Centre at 5 Bosanko St, Westcourt, opens 8am-3pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.