A place for everyone
Our Programs / Community Kitchen / Volunteer Program / Assisted Volunteers Program / Egg Program / Christmas Cave / Bus Tours
Our Programs
Looking to connect, learn something new or discover a hobby you love? You’re in the right place.
Our programs are all about building community and creating opportunities. Drop by our stores to see what’s on offer or get in touch to find out more about any program that catches your eye.
Open all day at Airport West Op Shop – 14 McIntosh Street, Airport West
We proudly create most of our meals from top-quality rescued food, thanks to our partnerships with OzHarvest, Fareshare, Foodbank and Second Bite – turning food that might otherwise go to waste into something delicious and nourishing.
Pop in for morning or afternoon tea anytime – for a $2 donation, enjoy cakes, biscuits and hot drinks (the kettle’s always on!).
This is more than just a meal – it’s a place to connect, unwind, and feel at home. Everyone is welcome!
Lunch: Monday to Friday, 12pm–2pm. $5 for a meal, hot soup & dessert!
Morning /Afternoon Tea: Open all day – $2 donation
Community Kitchen
Whether it’s for yourself or corporate volunteering, we invite you to join us on our journey to providing community inclusion and support. Get involved with your local charity and join the Helping Hands family!
Our volunteer force is the heart and soul of Helping Hands, across all three of our sites. Without our Volunteers, we couldn’t deliver Community Programs, run Op Shops or collect Donations.
To get involved, let us know how you’d like to help by completing the appropriate forms below, and either return your copy via email or hand it in directly to our staff at the Op Shop you’d like to volunteer at.
If you have a query about volunteering, get in contact with us here >
Volunteer Program
Assisted Volunteers Program
Our Assisted Volunteers Program creates meaningful opportunities for people of all abilities to get involved, contribute, and thrive.
Based at our McIntosh Street Op Shop, the program offers a supported and welcoming pathway into community life.
If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, have a chat with our office team or fill out a Volunteer Form and send it in!
Egg Program
It all started with a simple idea: to help a small business and reduce waste.
What began at Airport West quickly grew. Now, with demand booming, 500 dozen eggs are delivered across three stores each week.
Our Assisted Volunteers play a key role — unpacking, re-packing, and carefully preparing each dozen under the guidance of our own in-house Egg Man, Dayne.
Christmas Cave
At the heart of Helping Hands is our commitment to supporting families with dignity – and the Christmas Cave is a special part of that.
Exclusively available to our Community Pantry clients, this program gives parents and caregivers the opportunity to choose brand new gifts for their children, helping create a festive season that feels joyful and “normal,” even in hard times.
Want to take part? Just chat to our team at your next Community Pantry appointment to register your interest.
Our Op Shop Bus Tours have been a highlight on the calendar for regional Victoria for many years now.
Departing from towns such as Lockington and Kyneton, we bring a coach full of op shop lovers to Melbourne for the day where they tour our stores, shop up a storm and enjoy a delicious lunch at the local RSL.
Interested in coming along? Our next bus tour will be shared on all our socials, so keep an eye out!