IT is said that `from little things, big things grow’ – and when Balingup resident Wendy Trow had the idea of running a pop-up shop to raise funds for the One Family project in Cambodia, she had no idea where it would lead to.
Planning began in early January, when suddenly the TV screens were filled with bushfires that all but destroyed Yarloop and caused widespread damage in surrounding areas. Ms Trow talked with co-organizer, Mary Hockley, and it was agreed that people who bought goods at the shop should be given the option whether the money should be given to the bushfires or Cambodia.
“Friends and family were very generous in donating good quality goods,” Ms Trow said.
“We made sure that everything was sold at garage sale prices so that the whole community would benefit. In just four days, we raised a total of $4203.”
One highlight of the weekend was the chance arrival of a Yarloop resident who had lost her home in the fires and told of her harrowing experience. When she walked in the shop, she had no idea that some of the funds would go to her community.
“We were all close to tears as she accepted the gift of a (ridiculous) little talking Christmas bear and she promised to play it next year to remind her of her Balingup experience,” Ms Trow said.
As a result of customer requests, $2234 was given to the bushfire victims and $1969 to One Family Cambodia.
One Family spends its money on supporting children who live in extreme poverty in rural areas. The photo shows the delight of this child who has just received a bicycle that means she can now graduate to secondary school. Without this bicycle, she was destined to drop out of school at the end of 2015, aged just 12 years old.
Ms Trow makes her next trip to Cambodia in May/June this year.
“I really want to thank all the volunteers and donors who gave up their usual Australia Day activities to help with the pop up shop. Volunteers represent all that is good about this country and prove that you can have fun and help others at the same time,” she said.
