THE San Remo Opportunity Shop Auxiliary has made a major contribution to public healthcare in the Bass Coast by donating $180,000 for new hospital beds and an upgraded fetal monitor for Wonthaggi Hospital.
The Auxiliary gave $90,000 towards 20 modern beds with improved ergonomics and additional functions to assist staff to deliver quality care to patients.
Patients benefit as they can adjust many features of the bed themselves, so they are comfortable and can be in a position to eat, read or lie down.
The Auxiliary also gave $90,000 towards an upgraded fetal monitor that monitors a baby’s heartbeat and a mother’s contractions during pregnancy and labour.
Bass Coast Health Volunteer and Fundraising Manager Kerry Redmond said BCH highly valued the ongoing support offered by the Opp Shop volunteers.
“Bass Coast Health is fortunate to receive substantial fundraising support from the San Remo Opportunity Shop,” said Ms Redmond.
“Last financial year alone, the Op Shop raised $190,000 for hospital beds, CTG machines, stroke rehabilitation equipment and a portable electrocardiogram (ECG) machine for Bass Coast Health.
“This equipment extends the range of services we’re able to deliver to our community to provide them with more care closer to their homes.”
Op Shop Auxiliary President Sara Fleisner said the volunteers were proud to be able to support such a vital service as BCH.
“To see the beds now in action is fantastic as this is why we do what we do – to give back to our community,” said Ms Fleisner.
“Our volunteers are passionate about serving the community through not only raising funds, but also through providing a service where people can buy affordable goods and a service that reduces impact on the environment by minimising the amount of waste that goes to landfill,” she said.
“The Op Shop is also a place for our volunteers to connect with other like-minded people and be able to give back to the community in which they live.”
This year, the Op Shop volunteers commemorated the milestone of raising more than $1 million for Bass Coast Health since the Op Shop Auxiliary was formed in 2016. Since 2016, the Op Shop has donated to the L. Rigby Centre for cancer care, District Nurses, Dental Clinic and Maternity services, as well as items like scanners, an ultrasound machine, adjustable beds, chemotherapy chairs, two haemodialysis chairs with armrests, and furniture for Griffiths Point Lodge residential care centre and more.
The San Remo Opportunity Shop is open Monday to Friday, 10am-2.30pm, at 65D Back Beach Road, San Remo.
If you can’t make it to the San Remo Op Shop, you can also browse through their eBay store: https://www.ebay.com.au/str/lorrainespreloved
