The Open Door Community Bookshop in Gawler Arcade will celebrate will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2017.
To this day, the shop continues to trade as a not-for-profit commercial entity, which sells a range of Christian books and gifts is staffed entirely by volunteers. The diversity of the contents of the shop is a reflection of the demands in the community.
You will find a wide selection of gifts for a birth, a communion, birthday, school graduation or even thanks to your child’s teachers.
A collaborative team management led by Manager Shirley Klose ensures the workload is spread amongst as many volunteers as possible. Mrs Klose paid tribute to past managers including Margaret Purdue who was the first manager, Ros Hofmeyer and Kevin Krieg.
The idea that the Gawler community would benefit from a Christian outreach shop was the brainchild of Dr Frank White, a local dentist who owned he Gawler Arcade. In 1977 Dr White offered the use of one of the shops in the Arcade to the local Catholic, Lutheran and Uniting Churches.
They all donated $1,000 and the shop was registered under the auspices of the Uniting Church. Local Member Tony Piccolo said that the Open Door Community Bookshop is not your typical bookshop.
“Not only is there is a wide selection of books available to choose from but there is also a large selection of great gift ideas that feed the soul and lift the spirits” he said.
If you are interested in volunteering in the bookshop, please drop in and have a chat with Shirley.