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School Savvy NQ Wrap Up
29th January 2021
Centacare NQ’s first ever School Savvy Pop Up shops located in Townsville, Burdekin and Cloncurry has drawn to a close with the start of the new school year 2021.
“The School Savvy shops are an upcycling initiative aimed at providing affordable school uniforms and supplies for those families most in need”, said Centacare NQ Director of Client Services, Stephen Burrowes.
To date School Savvy has recorded 1077 families through the doors, with just over 500 of those families in Townsville.
A customer feedback form was available across the sites and 96 were completed over the 3 week period in Townsville and Burdekin combined. Key questions asked were focused on whether the customer felt we had made a difference, whether they felt respected, were satisfied with the service, and what was useful about the service. See below a snapshot of the feedback received.
There was not a single incidence of dissatisfaction noted in the forms collected!
“The staff here are so friendly and helped with finding what I needed”
“Good people and you had what I needed”
“Kind, helpful and respectful”
“You made a difference, just making you feel welcome even though I don’t have much money”
“Absolutely beautiful, kind ladies making families life and start to school year easier”
“You’ve made an enormous difference to our family for the start of the school year. The ladies here are so kind, helpful and just beautiful. Its an incredible idea and would be such a help to the community to continue in the future”
“We just moved here because of family illness and death, with the cost of the move and my mums funeral leaving us financially stretched. You’ve made a difference, with my kids having the proper uniforms to start school”
“You’re decreasing landfill with cheaper uniforms. Its making society accept 2nd hand clothing too! Wonderful, wonderful job !!”
“You are providing a great community service. Awesome, keep up the good work”
“I’m in crisis accommodation and really needed this assistance. You’ve made going back to school less stressful”
Special mention to:
Queensland Country Bank who came on board as a gold sponsor of the initiative and allowing us to house collection bins in their Willows and Ayr branches as well as providing staff to help man the pop up shop on Tuesdays and Wednesday’s.
Tosco Office National who supported us with the sourcing of school stationery and pre-packed the pencil cases.
Vinnies who accommodated our School Savvy NQ collection bins in each of their Vinnies shops across the diocese.
Townsville City Council who supported the initiative through the Mayors Community Assistance Grant
Megan Wuersching from Townsville Catholic education office who volunteered her time during school holidays to assist in the pop-up shop, along with the help of her daughter.
Debbie Mitchell (Coordinator for the Saver Plus Program at The Smith Family) who volunteered her time to work in the pop-up shop.
Also generous donations from schools and support from members of the community, including Adits, NQ Pool Guy, Lions Club Townsville (host). Orange Sky Laundry. Catholic Diocese of Townsville staff and Burdekin Shire Youth Council.
The Cloncurry branch of School Savvy NQ would like to thank their major Sponsors MMG Mine, Dugald River Social Club and Ernest Henry Mine for their support. This had allowed the Cloncurry community in need to access free school uniforms and school supplies as well as a special open day offering no cost back-to-school haircuts for kids. The Boundary Gate must also be thanked for donating the School Bags and all the wonderful volunteers who came down and volunteered their time at the Open Day.
If you would like to be involved in supporting School Savvy NQ in 2021/22 please email schoolsavvy@centacarenq.org.au or contact us through our facebook page @schoolsavvyNQ
