To help fund the 24-hour crisis support hotline, as well as suicide prevention and education programs across the region, Lifeline has launched a campaign to attract more volunteers and increase the amount and quality of donated goods.

Lifeline volunteers coordinator Jacinta Roache said the hours of operation of their Port Fairy op shop would be extended to include Saturday afternoons and Sundays as soon as possible, but more volunteers are needed to man the store.

Mrs Roache said increasing the store’s opening hours to capture the tourist trade would make a big difference to Lifeline’s bottom line.

“We really need some support from the community,” she said.

“We need to increase our donations to the store.

“I think one of the reasons that donations are down, or we’re challenged with getting stock into our stores, is probably the increase of online secondhand sales like your Facebook Buy, Swap and Sell.”

While traditionally Lifeline has been able to fill its five south-west stores using local donations, recently it has had to source stock from other not-for-profit organisations outside the region. But that often comes at a cost.

“At the moment we are sourcing stock from out of town to try and keep those stock levels up, especially over this period,” Mrs Roache said.

“We’re looking at having to do it to start off with the Port Fairy store.

“It’s not ideal, but we see that as a good way to get things started.

“We like to think our point of difference is that we have quality and interesting little finds and gems for people. So quality is a really big issue for us.”

Donations can be made during business hours to the Warrnambool, Hamilton, Camperdown, Portland and Port Fairy stores or the Raglan Parade warehouse.

Lifeline will collect large furniture items at no cost by calling 5562 8694.

Mrs Roache said Lifeline’s services were vital with about 2000 calls to the 13 11 14 crisis hotline nationwide on Christmas Day alone.

“There’s a lot of people that need the support of Lifeline,” she said.