Tammy Browne (Store Manager), Melissa While (Statewide Mission and Membership Manager), Les Baxter (COO), Chantelle French (NW Youth and Community Coordinator) and Lauren Trewin (NW Retail Coordinator)
The St Vincent De Paul Society (Vinnies) is pleased to announce the re-opening of a key aspect of its community Hub in Smithton which continues to provide emergency relief and service to people in the north west region who are doing it tough.
The Hub has now re-opened its retail store at the site, adding to existing service elements including provision of emergency relief and a kitchen for the preparation of food to support the Circular Head region’s Vinnies Van and ‘Dining with Friends’ program. Together these activities will operate from the central location at 132 Nelson St, Smithton where there is easy accessibility and plenty of parking.
The Smithton store joins a network of 26 other retail sites and delivers two key benefits; it provides a range of affordable items for the community, while helping to fund delivery of support and assistance to the disadvantaged across Tasmania.
Chief Executive Officer Heather Kent said the Smithton Hub provided an important Vinnies presence in north west Tasmania which also delivers a range of support and activities in the area. Importantly, this site also provides an opportunity for those seeking to volunteer their skills and experience in contributing to the community, providing scope to engage with Vinnies in a range of ways
“The Smithton Hub was previously a Vinnies Store, but it necessarily closed due to COVID restrictions and a lack of volunteers,” she said.
“We are excited to have re-opened the Vinnies Store, but even more excited that the site has increasingly become a more integrated Hub that delivers a range of community services. In addition, we’ve been delighted that many have continued to volunteer with us, while also welcoming many new faces. There’s a role to suit anyone interested in supporting our work as a volunteer and with a growing number of activities thriving at the Smithton Hub, we’d always welcome more who might be interested in supporting our work in a voluntary capacity.”
The retail store takes up around a third of the Smithton Hub, offering a sizable area to display a regularly changing array of items. The store is open weekdays from 10.00am til 4.00pm and is operated by a mix of staff and volunteers. Recognising this as a valuable community asset that becomes part of a broad statewide network which offers constantly refreshed stock, the store also accepts donations of pre-loved clothing, furniture, books, electrical goods, home wares and other trinkets in good condition.
Media are invited to join Vinnies staff and volunteers who will be celebrating the opening of the hub
- Where: Vinnies Retail Shop 132 Nelson Street Smithton
- When: 12:15pm Friday 28 July 2023
- Contact: Adrian Smith 0417 529 826
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