Goods dumped at charity op-shops diverting attention from those in need: Salvos
Charities like the Salvos are being swamped with goods dumped at their now-closed op-shops as people declutter their homes during coronavirus pandemic.
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Charity op-shops are being overrun with dumped household items as stores are forced to close due to the risk of coronavirus.
The Salvation Army South Australia confirmed now-closed stores were piling up with rubbish that volunteers were not available to sort.
The organisation – which is expecting a rise in people seeking help as jobs are lost – has warned that staff will have to divert their attention from those in need to attend to the piles.
Dumping is believed to be heightened by more people staying home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Salvos spokesman Mark Foyle said he had been made aware of its Noarlunga thrift shop being overrun with goods.
He said many volunteer-based stores had closed because they were predominantly staffed by elderly people.
“We might not have volunteers, however, local stores are run by the local Salvos centres,” Mr Foyle said.
“That means the people that run that centre will have to make sure they go and clear it.
“It adds to the workload of the group that are running the centre who also might have their centre running for emergency relief.”
Mr Foyle said people should contact the Salvos or other charities to check stores are open before they consider dropping off items.
“It will take people off other work like people who have come to us for assistance,” he said.
“We have enough struggles without … having to clean it all up.”
The organisation has registered an increase in people seeking help through hardship and is expecting that number to rise.
Vinnies SA chief executive Louise Miller Frost said all their stores had also shut due to coronavirus.
“Please do not leave donations outside shops, but put them aside until we reopen, at which time we will gladly accept your generous contribution,” Ms Miller Frost said.
One shopper at the Royal Park Drakes said the Vinnies next door was “overflowing with rubbish”.
“The Vinnies is closed due to coronavirus, but people continue to bring bags of clothes and stuff, which then gets sifted through and blown all over the car park,” they said.
“There’s broken mirrors, clothes across the car park. It’s not charitable.
“I have friends who volunteer in this Vinnies shop – all this stuff will end up in landfill not in the store.
“It would be better if people are cleaning out cupboards to keep it until charities re-open.”