Boxes and bags of generous donations are filling charity stores in Wagga, prompting fresh calls for consideration.
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Salvation Army store manager Julie Cheverton praised the ever-increasing generosity of the region but asked those donating to wait until the gates were open.
She said the dumping of sometimes wonderful items outside hours was resulting in theft, vandalism and a giant mess.
“It’s the ones that strip, shred and spread the plastic bags all over the footpath that cause the problems,” Ms Cheverton said.
“And items just get pinched from out the front.”
She said it was a shame to lose items that could be sold or re-purposed to help the community.
Ms Cheverton said there would quite often be a box or bag among three or four containing something distasteful but said she wouldn’t turn away a great donation for one unsaleable item.
“If I said no to the donation the store would miss out on so much,” Ms Cheverton said.
“Everything is usable.”
Ms Cheverton said clothes that weren’t 100-per-cent quality were sent overseas while glass was broken down to make road base and plastic and metal could also be re-purposed.
“What’s good to you might not be good to me,” she said. “But you’ve got to roll with the bad to get the good.”
She said even though garbage dumping was an issue – taking up man power and funds to drive to the tip – it wasn’t the main issue.
“Everything is donated in good faith,” Ms Cheverton said. “We just ask that people hold on … until we return to work.”
A St Vincent de Paul Society spokesperson asked residents to plan before donating.
“We ask people to plan before donating,” the spokesperson said. “Think about what items are being donated and try and drop off goods ... during operational hours, so they aren’t left outside.”
Vinnies rely on the generosity of donors as 66 per cent of local income is generated through sales, according to the spokesperson.
“We rely upon the generosity of donors,” they said.
“We really appreciate receiving good quality items, including often unopened gifts.”
With more than $20,000 spent on waste disposal locally, those donating are reminded to check the quality of items – asking whether or not the item would be fit for a friend or family member before gifting it to a charity.
