South West Community Services
About Us
South West Community Services is the community arm for South West Christian Church.
We exist to “Make brighter futures around the world.”
We do this mainly through our retail stores called Lighthouse Stores.
Lighthouse Stores is an initiative to help people in need both in local communities and also help fund missions work around the world.
It consists of a chain of stores (op shops) that sell new and used clothing, furniture, computers,
new electrical whitegoods and bric-brac.
In our present economic times it’s getting harder and harder to make ends meet for everyday families, by providing a low-cost, more affordable alternative the future becomes brighter for families in need.
So through our lighthouse stores we are able to provide:
- Emergency relief (food, clothing, furniture and school resources)
- Rehabilitation assessments and support
- Supervision of correctional community work
- Supervision and training of work experience participants and vocational education students
- Facilitation of neighbourhood support groups and networks.
Profits from the lighthouse stores go to South West Missions which means any purchase you make at our stores is simply not the end of the story.
Your purchase is not the end of the story
Lighthouse Stores are making brighter futures all over the world.
Locally
Lighthouse stores are distribution centers for local needy families, children and new arrivals to benefit from receiving food parcels, clothing, furniture and even computers and selected electrical items.
Many Families struggle to make ends meet so lighthouse helps by providing what they need.
Internationally
Children all over the world are born into a life of poverty and suffering. Lighthouse will not ignore their need and desire to make their futures brighter. Therefore profits from our stores go to help fund projects to build orphanages and infrastructures to care for children and families in countries such as China, Philipines, Sri Lanka and Uganda. Over the years we have sent hundreds of computers to different countries as they have expressed need.
Lighthouse also sponsors children in Philipines and Uganda.
Lighthouse stores also make brighter futures by providing supervision and training of work experience participants and vocational education students.
Volunteer Program
Our ‘Making brighter futures’ volunteer program is available for those who want to gain experience and training in these areas:
- Retail Operations
- Customer service
- Cash Handling
- Administration and
- Information Technology - Hardware and Software
South West Community Services is run 95% by volunteers, who come from all walks of life all over
Melbourne. Some are long-term unemployed, some are new arrivals who want to gain some practical skills in a given area and some simply just want to gain extra skills.
We have found our volunteers have enjoyed the experience and that they have gained more than experience and training
- because they are in a supportive, friendly atmosphere, they feel more valued, build confidence in themselves and therefore gain employment quicker and achieve greater things. We have had many proven cases where people have tried to find jobs for many months, even years but have been unsuccessful but from volunteering with us have gain skills but also the confidence to secure employment.
If you want to be a part of this program to gain skills and more phone us on
(03) 9748 0099.
Contact
For emergency relief contact:
South West Community Services
Head Office: 147-155 Hogans Road, Hoppers Crossing 3029
Phone: (03) 9748 9233
Fax: (03) 9748 9177
For retail and volunteering information contact:
Lighthouse Stores
Head Office: 21/13b Elm Park Drive, Hoppers Crossing 3029
Phone: (03) 9748 0099
Fax: (03) 9748 4599
Other Stores:
Lighthouse Melton
271 High Street, Melton 3337
Phone: (03) 9743 0033
Fax: (03) 9743 9151
Lighthouse Laverton
58 Woods Street, Laverton 3028
Phone: (03) 9931 0889
Fax: (03) 9369 3178