Along with opening on Saturdays, the shop has extended its trading hours; opening until 4pm on all weekdays, with late night shopping on Thursday until 6pm. 

The store’s new manager, Jenny Cross, said the extended trading hours were in response to high demand from customers.

“I’ve been doing a little survey and a lot of people work through out the week, so they can’t get to us, but they want to come on Saturday morning,” she said.

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Ms Cross said shoppers could find all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff, from old dolls to singing whiskey decanters.

“You have your regulars, the same people who come in every week looking for that quirky thing,” she said.

“We’ve got a lot of retro stuff, and we’ve been getting a lot of antique specialists coming in to have a look.”

Ms Cross is on the hunt for more volunteers to fill the extended trading hours and the new Saturday shifts, with the store opening from 8.30am to 1.30pm.

There are dozens of different jobs to do from washing bric-a-brac to sorting clothes at the warehouse, or picking up donated furniture.

“We’ll put you to work one way or another,” Ms Cross said, laughing.

“There’s always something to do, even if it’s just talking to customers.”

Ms Cross said she first became involved with the Salvation Army through her job at Kmart, helping them with the annual Christmas wishing tree.

When she retired, she didn’t hesitate to volunteer.

“I love it, the organisation is so friendly,” Ms Cross said.

“I like knowing that I’m giving back to the community, that’s really important to me.

“We’re a family here. The Salvation Army is a family and that’s what we try to get across to our volunteers, that we look after each other.”

To volunteer or find out more information, drop in to see Ms Cross at the Salvation Army Family Store at 186 Peel Street, or call 6766 7623.

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