Donations that continue to be dropped off outside Salvation Army thrift shops are going to waste and are taking essential resources away from the emergency relief effort.
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All Salvation Army thrift shops are closed during the coronavirus pandemic and signs outside the stores say they are not accepting donations.
Salvation Army Ballarat Community Church core officer Major Rhonda Elkington said the organisation was asking members of the community to keep any items they would like to donate until the thrift shops re-open.
"Given the shops are closed, our volunteers are not available and our manager has taken some leave, we have got no way of doing anything with the donations," she said.
The donations are being wasted at the moment but also it is putting a real strain on our very limited personnel resources.
- Major Rhonda Elkington, Salvation Army
"We have been having to find people to go and take it to the tip which is wasteful, but it is also wasteful when things are put out in the open air and exposed to weather and rain before we can get to them.
"Really, the donations are being wasted at the moment but also it is putting a real strain on our very limited personnel resources which we are really concentrating on our essential service of material aid for people at the moment.
"We really do appreciate and support the generosity of the public but at this time we can't accommodate. When we reopen we will be happy to have donations again."
The Courier photographer Lachlan Bence captured unwanted items that had been dumped outside the Salvation Army thrift shop on Creswick Road at the weekend.
While donations of items to op shops will not be accepted during the coronavirus pandemic, Salvation Army and other welfare agencies have put a call out for financial donations and donations of fresh and staple food to help services meet demand.
Welfare agencies are expecting their client numbers to grow as thousands of people are left without an income due to job losses caused by restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
