Clare Valley ecumenical vision thrives
Local
It’s 9am on a Monday morning and all is quiet on Burton Street in the regional town of Clare. Beyond the peaceful streetscape, a team of dedicated volunteers springs into action as donations of second-hand clothing and household goods roll in at the CVCO Thrift Shop.
It’s just one of the services provided by Clare Valley Christian Outreach Inc. which was founded on March 29 1992 by a group of kind-hearted locals inspired by an ecumenical mission held in the town.
They identified a need for an inter-denominational outreach service to help those in need.
Since then, CVCO Inc has provided the community with emergency relief, Christmas hampers, the Blyth Community Network, mental health volunteer support, school chaplains and a Christian book shop. It also purchased a house to provide emergency accommodation for families in need.
At the thrift shop, manager James Duggin oversees the flurry of activity as volunteers sort donations, clean and repair treasures, and place them on shelves in the expansive space.
Among them, is 90-year-old Judith Hanlin who has volunteered there for more than 20 years.
“It’s changed enormously,” Judith says.
“When I first started, we worked in a little tin shed out the back.”
Trish Penna, 80, has lent a hand for 18 years.
“It’s nice to do something after you retire and this is a great place to be around people,” she says.
“It’s good to know we’re helping somebody.”
CVCO Thrift Shop volunteers Andrew Weckert and Elden Lawrie.
Former farmer Andrew Weckert can be found in the sorting room while his wife sorts through mountains of clothing.
“We check electrical gear as it comes in and get it ready for pricing,” Andrew says.
“I love cleaning things up. You might spend a lot of time on it, then minutes after it goes out, someone snaps it up. It’s interesting work. We love finding out what’s at the bottom of a box. Some of it is trash but some is treasure.”
Nearby, former farmer Elden Lawrie polishes vintage drink coasters.
“After retiring and being involved in the church, I decided to put my hand up to help out here,” Elden says.
“I must be doing something right because they haven’t kicked me out yet!”
Prices are low, with 85 to 90 per cent of household items, clothes and bric a brac at $3 or under. “We want to make sure people who desperately need stuff to get them through or set up a new house can access things,” James says.
“People donate all sorts of things. Often people are downsizing, or their parents have died and they’re cleaning their house out. Local wineries and restaurants donate a lot when they renovate their kitchens.”
Only top quality goods make it on to the shelves. Excess clothes, shoes, toys, cushions and handbags go to Lifeline in Port Pirie, often totalling 15.3 tonnes of donated goods a year. Excess books are sent to a community-run bookshop at Kapunda.
Ian Foster, Beverly Sanders and Kevin Daly in the CVCO Bookshop in Clare.
Just a short stroll from the thrift shop, the CVCO Bookshop sells an impressive range of new Christian materials, religious texts, children’s books, gifts, and mementos for first Communion and confirmation.
Approximately 100 volunteers also provide vital support in the form of community interactions and support.
“The conversations we have with people are mind blowing,” said CVCO secretary Jan Trengove.
“A woman from Port Lincoln popped in the other day and was surprised because they don’t have anything like this there.”
The management committee observed a decline in retail Christian shops over recent years and is devoted to the importance of providing resources and community engagement.
“I feel overwhelmed that it’s still going and going so strongly,” said bookshop finance manager Beverly Sanders.
“I think it just proves that God was part of it all the time.”
Former Wilmington farmer Kevin Daly was a farmer before he became CVCO’s treasurer.
“It’s a typical small-town scenario; you get involved in a lot of things,” he says.
“I joined in 2011 after seeing a notice in our Catholic Church bulletin and found them to be a very energetic group. They soon became like a family to me.”
Volunteers and office bearers Cathy Giersch, Kevin Daly and Jan Trengove at the CVCO Bookshop in Clare.
Kevin grew up in an era where there was a ‘them and us’ attitude toward other churches. “You couldn’t even go into another church for a wedding or a funeral,” he says.
Not so now. In a display of the organisation’s ecumenical nature, office bearers come from Lutheran, Anglican, Uniting, Catholic, Baptist, Futures and New Life churches. Part of CVCO’s objectives is to, ‘share Jesus with people of all ages, all cultures, all lifestyles, and to demonstrate genuine care for our community and its people’.
They take it seriously.
“All the churches actively participate,” says Jan.
“We rest on the fact that CVCO is out there looking after people with needs, rather than the congregation looking inward.”
Current president Cathy Giersch smiles: “Past president Jill Schunke said CVCO was birthed in and continues in prayer. Isn’t that fabulous.”
CVCO Thrift Shop is open Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am – 3pm and Saturday from 9.30am – noon. The bookstore is open daily (except Sundays).
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