Last month the Sapphire Surprises op shop in Eden relocated to a new, larger space, just a few hundred meters down the road. The shop, which is run in partnership by Anglicare and the Sapphire Coast Anglican Parish, has been blessed in recent years to receive a steady flow of donated materials from the church and local community. This generosity means that filling a larger space has been no problem for the Sapphire Surprises volunteers, many of whom have been giving their time to the shop for years.
Volunteer and former shop manager Flo Young, for example, has been volunteering at Sapphire Surprises for nearly 30 years! Her dedication to serving her community through the op shop and its emergency relief services, as well as many other local endeavours, led Flo to be named Bega Valley Shire’s 2024 Senior Citizen of the Year, and we couldn’t be prouder!
“We are so lucky to have her!”, said Kerryann Fitzpatrick, who now manages Sapphire Surprises. “Flo has lived her life in Eden for the community. She is a quiet and dignified person who does what is needed with a no-fuss approach!”
Flo was integral in originally organising emergency relief services at the shop, services which in recent years have seen ongoing elevated demand.
At 83, Flow is going strong and will make the move, along with the rest of the volunteer team, to their new location at 136-138 Imlay Street in Eden. If you’re in the area, come on in for a visit!
