An assortment of new clothes, hygiene products, toys and food supplied by Crossenvale Community House are available to be picked up for free at the Echuca Moama Uniting Church.
Crossenvale Community House co-ordinator Sheridan Clark said they initially started the clothes drive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over the past two years, we donated more than $167,000 worth of brand new goods and clothes to people in Echuca-Moama,” Ms Clark said.
“We linked up with the organisation Good360, which connected us to stores like Big W and Best&Less in Echuca, Bendigo and Shepparton.
“They would donate to us and we would go and collect the items.”
It was after receiving flood warnings that Crossenvale Community House team members realised they would need to move the goods from their storage facility, which was at risk of flooding.
Ms Clark said a lovely woman who worked in the transport industry offered to pick up the items and store them in a truck.
“The clothes and goods were stored in the truck for about a week when we decided that we would donate to people impacted by the floods,” she said.
“The Echuca Moama Uniting Church have been fantastic and allowed us to set up in their hall, as we just didn’t have the space at our community house.”
Ms Clark encouraged people to take a look at the goods on offer.
“My hope is that it will take people’s minds off things for a bit, cheer people up and provide some retail therapy,” she said.
In the spirit of generosity, Mazda has permitted Crossenvale Community House to borrow one of its utes for the next week to transport products to people that can’t get to the Uniting Church.
Ms Clark said to phone the house on 5480 3583 if you wished to arrange items being dropped off or if you wanted to donate any of your own unused clothes or items.
The clothes and goods can be picked up for free at the Echuca Moama Uniting Church hall at 115-117 Hare St, Echuca.
Items will be available for pick-up for the next week and a half.