A unicycle and a vintage 1970s wedding dress are just some of the out-of-the-ordinary donations so far gifted to Oban’s newest charity shop.
Re_Store on George Street had its grand official opening ceremony on Friday and helpers Issy MacArthur and Mairi Rochead had the honour of cutting the ribbons.
Trade has been brisk since the store started trading six weeks ago, and the community support has been amazing says co-ordinator Louise Murphy.
Such is the project’s success, opening hours will include a Friday from later this month and its first Saturday will coincide with the town’s Charities Day on June 1.
The big opening follows news that the ScottishPower Foundation has given £63,000 to help kickstart the recycle, upcycle and repair shop, which will also be hosting workshops and events as well as a rescued food project to help alleviate poverty and reduce waste. The money was awarded after Hope Kitchen put in a bid.
Set up by the Connecting Communities Collective, a partnership between five Oban-based charities including Hope Kitchen, Re_Store will work as a charity shop as well as a Rescued Food hub. It will also have a workshop space in the back where it will run workshops and events that help to build people’s confidence and ability to mend, repurpose and reuse clothing and home items - and more.
Announcing the funding to a round of applause, Jane Churchill from Connecting Communities Collective said it was important that Oban "people feel the space (Re_Store) is theirs" and that the project becomes self-sustaining with community support.
Hope Kitchen service manager Catriona Petit described it as "a real place of ideas".
She also said Issy MacArthur was an ’obvious choice’ to cut the opening ribbons because of the commitment she has shown supporting Re_Store right from the beginning.
Catriona added: "She can turn her hand to anything and is an example of the positive impact volunteering can have on the community."
Issy, who previously volunteered at another charity shop for seven years, said helping out at Re_Store was good for her mental health, as well as being a great way to meet different people.
She said: "I’m enjoying giving back."
Mairi Rochead, who shared the ribbon cutting duties, was there to represent Healthy Options, with its team providing her with help when she needed it. Healthy Options are another of the five partner charities involved in the venture.
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