The Ballarat Combined Charities Christmas Card Shop, which is staffed by 50 volunteers from the Ballarat region, opened on Monday following a morning tea launch last Friday.  

Seventeen charities will benefit from the Christmas card sales, with 94 per cent of profits going towards the charities and six per cent towards the running costs of the store.

While the store has been in operation for more than three decades, Denise Boyko is in charge for the first time having taken up the reigns from Connie Sadler.

“Having something like this in the community is very important, especially for the charities,” she said. “It’s also important for people to keep in touch at Christmas and to share the message of peace and joy – it is a giving time of year.” 

Ms Boyko said the charities receiving the funds, which include Red Cross, Anglicare, Cancer Council, Guide Dogs Australia, Mechanics Institute and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, were wide ranging enough to have impacted most members of the community. 

The cards are supplied by the charities and range from handmade to commercially printed, with designs including Australian, religious and novelty, and prices ranging from 40 cents to a dollar. 

Christmas gifts, stationery and calendars are also available to purchase.

“We’re hoping the community will support us,” Ms Boyko said. “People still like to get personal Christmas cards instead of a generalised email, something that is addressed to them.”

The store, which is located at 1A Eyre Street, is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm, and will also open on Saturday mornings from November.

For more information search for Ballarat Combined Charities Christmas Card Shop on Facebook or call 0413 190 547.