AFTER uncertainty, tears, anger and finally a solution, the Leeton Community Op Shop will be officially opened this weekend.
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The op shop is located where the former Leeton Salvation Army family store could once be found.
A decision in March resulted in the Salvation Army closing the store.
At the time of that announcement the community initially expressed its disbelief and anger, but a new idea was brewing in the background.
As a result of the closure the Leeton Community Care Development organisation was formed and the idea of re-opening the store as a community op shop hit the ground running.
The new store will be managed by Jodie Ridge, with Narelle Weymouth to also provide social services and crisis support.
More than 30 volunteers will also be on hand to help man the store.
Leeton Community Care Development chairman Graham Heffer said he felt relief in the lead up to the grand opening on Saturday.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” he said.
“It has been a lot of hard work to get the op shop operational and a lot of people have played a big part in that.
“The community support has been amazing.”
A “soft launch” will be held on Friday night at the store for sponsors and businesses, while an official opening will take place on Saturday with a ribbon cutting by Desley Lord at 9.30am.
The store will then be open for business, with extended Mother’s Day trading hours on Saturday to 2pm.
Social support services will resume on Monday. They will include access to homelessness services, financial counselling, emergency welfare pantry, crisis support and referrals to other counselling initiatives.
Residents will soon notice green donation bins popping up around town, while the former family store truck is also set for a green revamp for pick up and deliveries of donations.
“The shop is looking great,” Mr Heffer said. “The inside has been re-painted, the front counter changed around and we’ve got two new offices in there.”