A milestone donation
Stawell’s Bookworm Gallery and Opportunity Shop has donated $2000 to Eventide Homes to bring its fundraising total to $100,000 in the past 14 years.
Gallery manager Cherrelle Nicholson presented the latest donation to outgoing Eventide Homes chief executive Sue Blakey, who retired on Friday.
“We usually give to the hospital and Eventide at the same time, but because Sue is retiring, we just thought we’d like to round off the total to $100,000,” Mrs Nicholson said.
“It’s a lot of money over the years. All our volunteers work for nothing, including myself, and the items are donated by the local community.
“We sell what we’ve got, which is books, videos, clothes, furniture, kitchen bric-a-brac – it all just mounts up, which is amazing.
“The lockdowns help. People have been bored and lonely and come in here and enjoy themselves.”
Mrs Blakey thanked Mrs Nicholson and gallery volunteers for their dedicated efforts to raise money for the aged-care home. “The whole thing is awesome, to be able to have a shop like this and donate half to Eventide Homes and half to the hospital,” she said.
“The fact volunteers do it is amazing. And I wouldn’t have thought a shop up the street would make that much income, let alone a shop with donated items.”
Mrs Blakey said the money would be used towards a decking project connecting Cashin and Mcgregor houses.
The new deck will feature seating, garden planters and shade sails, so it can be used year-round.
“It will give the residents an outdoor area where they can have barbecues – it will be awesome,” Mrs Blakey said.
“I officially retired on Friday and I’m honoured Cherrelle wanted to give the donation to me. It’s a bit special, because I used to work with Cherrelle.”
Mrs Nicholson said she worked at Eventide Homes for 21 years.
“It’s a special place for me, I loved it, and my mother is now there,” she said.