OUR DROP IN CENTRE WAS CLOSED TEMPORARILY ON 3 JUNE 2024 AS A COVID PRECAUTION.
Open from 10.00am to 2.00pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00am to 12.30pm Saturday. Phone: (02) 4476 3915
Our ‘Drop-in Centre’ (DinC) is in the heart of Narooma, around the corner from Mitre 10, opposite the Post Office. Staffed by a wonderful group of volunteers, the DinC offers second hand clothing and household articles at bargain prices, including linen, shoes, books, jigsaws, CD’s and records. People love to drop in for a chat as well as finding a bargain. Please come and visit us when next you are in town.
The idea for a Drop-in Centre was an inspiration from Gwenda Stockton, the wife of Don, the minister of the Church at that time. After much prayer, discussion and planning, the property next to the manse was rented and prepared.
Opening day was 1st August 1998, a wonderful celebration for the members of the Parish. A pink ribbon was cut, there was singing and a few speeches. Apart from selling craft items and second hand goods the centre provided help for those requiring counselling, filling in official forms, computer skills and direction to other agencies for help.
Volunteers from the Church and the community joined together to keep the doors open for three days each week. The “Grow Group” was formed by Margaret Benson and met weekly in the centre. An opportunity arose, to sub-lease the building thus assisting our rental payments. Both Dr Biggs and later Wesley Mission used rooms in the cottage and helped make the Drop-in a better and more widely known venue. We had great ‘Verandah Sales Days’ with barbecues on the front lawn. Two years afters its opening the cottage was sold and a new venue had to be found.
The tiny premises at 109 Campbell Street was rented. It was a challenge to fit all our stock into the two small rooms but on 8th August 2000, Rev Don Stockton again cut the ribbon to open our second centre. This shop was opposite the Narooma Court House so we began our monthly ‘Court Support’ program, offering a friendly face and a “cuppa” to those awaiting court appearances. Quarterly outdoor sales on the vacant lot just along from the centre brought many people to browse, buy, eat and chat.
In 2007, after the sale of the Central Tilba Church, the Parish bought the premises in Midtown Arcade and at last on 28th August the Narooma Drop-in Centre was open in its permanent location. Gwenda, who now lived in Cooma, was invited back to open the centre and cut the ‘pink’ ribbon. In her speech she outlined how God has helped this wonderful outreach come to fruition saying, “As we give to others, we reveal the Lord’s grace to them.”
Today the centre functions efficiently 6 days a week with a volunteer staff of 25, ably led by our co-ordinator Nancy Currey and a small committee.
Over the past 24 years the Drop-in Centre has supported local schools and pre-schools, sporting and community groups including our Rural Fire Brigades, as well as assisting anyone in need. We donate monies raised from sale of goods, back to our local and wider communities.
A frequently heard comment in our Centre is, “We love coming to shop and browse here. It’s always a happy and friendly place.”
Please drop in if you are passing