A traditional blessing ceremony heralded in the opening of a new Vinnies store in Bacchus Marsh.
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria state president Michael Liddy said the store, at 8 Grant Street, would help those in the Melton region and beyond in need of material and financial support.
“Our charity is first and foremost focused on giving a hand up to people in need, which is such an important part of the culture of our Vinnies shops,” Mr Liddy said.
“And there will be a great selection of high-quality clothes and goods at reasonable prices and premium products, too, sales of which will help to fund our local community welfare activities. Every dollar spent in our shops helps to support people experiencing poverty and hardship.”
Mr Liddy said the new shop takes over the iconic The Shed, an auxiliary Vinnies shop that used the outbuildings on the grounds of
St Bernard’s Church and which was run for more than 30 years by “an irreplaceable local with a very big heart, Dawn Lewin”.
While Ms Lewin said it was sad to see the end of an era, she welcomed a new, bigger Vinnies shop to town.
“It’s wonderful to see Vinnies opening a new shop that will be able to better respond to the growing needs in the community,” Ms Lewin said.
