Doubtless Bay Christian Centre has operated an opportunity shop since 1987, then known as the ‘Good News Opportunity Shop’. In the early years, when much of the stock received was donated by Auckland Churches, 5% of the proceeds was given back to social services in Auckland and 10% was used to support need in our local Doubtless Bay community. The remainder was used to support the work at Doubtless Bay Christian Centre. Between 2012 and 2017, the Church employed a part-time Youth and Community Worker who ran the very popular ‘SHINE’ programme for girls in the local schools. A significant portion of the funds for salary and running costs for the programme (offered free to schools), was raised by Op Shop Encounter. With the Op Shop taking over more and more of our facility needed for children and youth work, we made the decision in 2017 to erect a stand-alone shop. The building was given to us by Kawakawa Primary School on the condition that it was entirely removed and the site reinstated. It was relocated to our site in three sections. That was in early February 2019. The building was almost completely gutted back to the exterior shell and rebuilt from and including the floor up. A small team of volunteers has worked steadily nearly every Saturday morning since then to remodel the building for its new purpose and to meet Council specifications. From 2018 to 2021, much of the shop’s profits have been invested into the new shop building project. We also gratefully received a grant of $40,000 from the Baptist Foundation. We are very thankful to folk from the Lion’s and local painters as well, who have donated time and paint. Over the summer of 2021/22, shade sails will be installed over the children’s play area behind the Church building. This has been funded by shop profits. The play area is used by Church children and the popular ‘Giggles & Jiggles’ programme for pre-schoolers. It is also used by children from other community groups who hire our facilities. Going forward, we are planning new children and youth programmes with support from the Op Shop profits. Our heart is for the families in our community. To provide support when and where it is needed. A ‘hand-up, not a hand-out’. Thank you for supporting this work by donating goods and shopping at Op Shop Encounter. To our team of wonderful volunteers, who work so hard to keep the shop open, we are very grateful to the time and commitment you freely give.