It's been nearly five months since the March 2021 floods and the resulting closure of the Taree Lifeline Shop in Albert Street.
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It was a long haul and a lot of work, but the shop is now refurbished, reopened and ready for business.
However there is one thing they are still desperate for - volunteers.
"We've had most of our volunteers come back but we could always do with more," retail coordinator Jemma McDonald said.
Volunteers are needed for a range of different activities, such as serving customers, visual merchandising, going out on the truck, and sorting donated items.
"There are so many skills, and for people that are wanting to get into the workforce we run our stores like a proper retail store, so there is a lot of experience you can gain there," Jemma said.
'We are at the forefront of doing really new and exiting things in the store and also we offer a great place to meet new people and friends; we've got a lovely bunch!"
Jemma stresses that the store is COVID safe and volunteering in the shop is an activity people can feel doing.
And, Jemma says, the volunteers would get to work in a brand new store.
The floods damaged the building so badly the interior had to be completed gutted and rebuilt.
"It was an empty shell. We were very lucky that we had our core group of volunteers there to help, and we also had the army come in and do a fantastic job. That saved us days of work."
When the Lifeline crew first saw the shop after the floods, it was painful.
It was an empty shell. We were very lucky that we had our core group of volunteers there to help, and we also had the army come in and do a fantastic job.
- Jemma McDonald
"It was devastating when we first walked in and we saw the devastation - how much damage and how much we lost, because (the volunteers) put their heart and soul into it.
"But in saying that, they were really good. They took a day to be upset, be disappointed, be mad about what had happened and then they just pulled their sleeves up and looked at it as a positive, that we could rebuild the store.
"We have been closed for three months, so we've taken quite a hit there. But on the positive note, we've been able to provide a beautiful new store for everybody to come in and enjoy."
The store opened its doors quietly and without fanfare on Monday, July 26. They are hoping to release a date for a grand opening soon.
"We're just waiting for COVID restrictions to find out what's going on," Jemma said.
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with Taree Lifeline Store, pop in any time between 9am and 4pm on a weekday, and see the store manager, Alene Schutte. Alternatively you can email taree@lifelinemidcoast.org.au.
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