Regional residents generous to a fault

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Regional residents generous to a fault

Local community based op shops are being inundated by donations following a busier than usual festive holiday period.


Some shops such as Vinnies have been turning donations away due to the increased demand, leaving other community based shops such as the Salvation Army Thrift Shop Mount Gambier and Belltower Opportunity Shop with a surplus of donations.


Salvation Army Thrift Shop Mount Gambier corps leader Tim Frost said while it is always busier at this time of year, volunteers have reported it being the busiest they have seen it with some having been there for 15 years.


“It has been very busy this year. This is the busiest they have ever seen it and no one knows why, it just is,” Mr Frost said.


“We do not (turn donations away) so we get pretty well all of it in town. We do not reject anything, if people want to give it to us, we allow them to,” Mr Frost said.


“I know we are overwhelmed by stuff but we do not throw it out, we store it and then in the quieter months, we go through the stuff.


“During February it starts to taper off so in March and April it becomes quiet.”


Anglican Belltower Op Shop volunteer Trudy-Anne Doyle agreed, saying she thinks this year is “busier than ever”.


“Although it was busier than last year and as much as we were taking, we actually just had space we could put things so we were just better organised for it and I think that really helped,” she said.


“I think we have been slightly overwhelmed but we have managed it well and we are grateful because they are good donations.


“We have good volunteers and we are always looking for more but I think it comes back to having really good volunteers who work hard.


“With some of the op shops that are perhaps more community based, the community gets a really good deal and the money that we make stays here.


“We are not upset at all about getting the donations, you cannot operate without donations.


“This particular time of year seems to be where people have a lot of extra time on their hands and they go around and do things like that so I think this is always going to be the busy time.


“A lot of the kids are going back to school and a lot of people are going back to work so I think the time for them to do the big clear-out is done.”


To deal with the influx, the Anglican Belltower Op Shop ran a $1 an item promotion in December which is currently ongoing.


“That means that things are coming in but they’re going out really quick and the people that need it are getting it for a dollar so it is really good for the community,” Ms Doyle said.


“I recognise that some of the other op shops say they were not taking any and that’s fair enough because they cannot fit it in but with us we just put our price even lower than usual.


“Our price point is what really makes it work and so we are happy we have had all this.”


Ms Doyle is looking to celebrate 100 years since the first op shop opened in Melbourne in November and is appealing for fundraising groups and volunteers who want to be included or have an idea to get in contact on 0466 788 262.

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