The idea to open an op shop in Gilgandra came to founder Sandy McGrath in the middle of the night. Twelve weeks after opening, it was time to move to a bigger space. 

The Gilgandra Community Op Shop has just celebrated its re-opening after moving to the old Toyota showroom, freeing up plenty of space. 

“I don’t think any of us realised how (popular) it would be. Within 12 weeks, we were full, you could hardly move around the shop,” Mrs McGrath said.

“It was fantastic. The tireless work from volunteers to get the shop ready under extreme heat conditions was amazing.”

While volunteer fatigue is creeping into regional towns to hold local organisations afloat, Mrs McGrath said that the Gilgandra community has been eager to support the new shop. 

“People walk in, look around and say ‘I’d love to work here’.”

Re-opening in the old Toyota showroom gave the op shop more space than they could've imagined. (Supplied)

Entirely volunteer run, the shop has been seen as a way to upcycle and pass things on, while the money stays in Gilgandra.

Op shop volunteer Kim Hiscox said that in a cost of living crisis, having another affordable option for shopping has been popular. 

“We’ve lost Target here, so we don’t have cheaper shops where you can just nick in and pick up something,” Ms Hiscox said.

There's been no shortage of donations. (Supplied)

“We’re trying to get people to stop and stay in Gil…I’m a caravaner myself and the first thing I do when I go into a town is go to an op shop.”

“I just think they’re a treasure trove.” 

Donations have also come in droves, with enough to support the new op shop as well as St Vincent De Paul, and plans for the two op shops to work together in future. 

“I think we can dress everyone in the shire five times over,” Mrs McGrath said.