Growing Community and Connection For All
Corrimal Uniting Church’s Op Shop is more than a store—it’s a space for connection and community. With a mission of ‘Growing Community and Connection For All,’ the Op Shop offers affordable clothing while building relationships, support, and opportunities for others to get involved in the church’s wider activities.
I believe that being a part of a community is essential to our being. It is about belonging to something larger than ourselves. In this expression of camaraderie, everyone has their way of contributing, and Corrimal Uniting Church (CUC) is doing just that.
If you know Corrimal Uniting Church or have ever been in contact with them, you’d know that the key part of any story to do with CUC starts and ends with their mission of 'Growing Community and Connection For All'.
One of the most visible ways they live out this mission is through their Op Shop. But as Rev. Graham Anson explains, “The Op Shop is not so much a program that we run, as an expression of who we are trying to be in our community.” More than just a retail space, it is a welcoming environment where kindness, conversation, and connection are just as valuable as the clothing on the racks.
Unlike many second-hand stores focused solely on revenue, CUC’s Op Shop exists primarily to meet people, not to make money. “Clothing ends up being the conduit to us being there at some very important or even vulnerable moments of our customers' lives,” says Rev. Graham. In times of hardship, a friendly conversation and a listening ear can make all the difference, and the Op Shop volunteers truthfully embrace this responsibility.
Through the Op Shop, people also discover the wider community at CUC. It’s not uncommon for a shopper to become a student in the Living English classes, share a meal at the Wednesday community lunch, or join the craft group. Some are even inspired by the mission and become volunteers themselves. The sense of belonging flows both ways, with those from other CUC activities becoming donors and customers at the Op Shop.
Recently, the Op Shop welcomed a new part-time Store Manager, Donna Gribbin, who brings with her a valuable mix of retail, management, and not-for-profit experience. While she has only been in the role for a short time, the positive impact of her appointment is already being felt within the shop and the broader CUC community.
At its heart, the Corrimal Uniting Church Op Shop is more than a place to find affordable clothing. It is a place of connection, where community grows in the most genuine way—through people caring for one another.
