After two months in coronavirus lockdown charity shops are overflowing

Bargain-hunters and struggling families can snap up quality clothing, toys, homewares and winter-wear as more and more local op shops reopen. And they’re bursting at the seams.

The Salvation Army store in Hampton had items dumped outside it, creating a CODVID-19 hazard as well as troubling walkers.

Chock-a-block charity shops around Victoria have reopened after a long two months in lockdown, in which donations skyrocketed.

The reopening of major outlets, like Vinnies, Red Cross and the Salvos, will be slow and steady with larger stores from each group opening first so COVID-safe protocols can be followed.

CEO of the national association of charitable recycling organisations Omer Soker told the Leader he couldn’t believe the generosity of people during lockdown, which has stores brimming with items ready to be sold after a record number of donations.

“Warehouses and backs of shops are completely overflowing with stock, it’s amazing,” he said.

“We don’t have a figure on the number of donations during lockdown, but there has been a significant increase, that’s for sure.

“And when you consider the fact these stores couldn’t sell anything because they weren’t open, it means there are items for everyone now.”

While there are still incidents of illegal dumping, like the one below in St Kilda last week, Mr Soker said the message about how to correctly leave items was getting through.

Illegal dumping at ops shops and charity bins, like this one in St Kilda last week, is lessening as stores reopen. Picture: Supplied

“There was an initial increase in dumping during lockdown,” he said.

“But I think people are starting to understand it’s actually hurting charities, not helping, when they do it.”

The Leader reported in April that illegal dumping cost charities in Victoria $3.5 million a year, but 50 per cent of people think they’re helping when they dump their unwanted goods outside a charity or bin.

Jeff Antcliff general manager of retail at Vinnies said 37 of their stores stayed open during lockdown and they now have 85 open.

“People still relied on us and needed us and I am really proud of the team who kept working through the lockdown period,” he said.

“And I am so impressed with the donors.

“We have windows open where people can come and drop off the goods they don’t want anymore, and we then quarantine the items for 48 hours at least.

“It has made me so proud to see our teams returning to work and the excitement on their faces.”

National Salvos stores director Matt Davis said they made the decision to open Salvos stores to support the community.

“Salvos Stores play a vital role in our communities by ensuring our customers have access to great quality items at reasonable prices, as well as providing support for the most vulnerable in our community,’ he said.

“With winter approaching, we want to ensure our community has access to the items they need.”

Some charity shops around the state were seeing record sales before lockdown, and Mr Soker said it was down to people embracing sustainability and wanting to have their purchases to have an environmental and social impact.

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“People want to be part of the solution,” he said.

“As these charity shops successfully re-open, the rest that were forced to close will follow and open over the coming weeks.”

Mr Soker said it’s important for people to call ahead or jump on social media and check if their local shop had reopened yet.

@mottersjames