Customers and donations to the Pulteney Street store dramatically dropped with the closure of the southbound lane, but the volunteers continue to come to work, and so with fewer donations to sort and customers to serve, they clean with Mr Sheen, and work to sort racks of clothing.

This week they learned the southbound lane will open on Monday, June 18 and the northbound lane will close as contractors begin work on stage two of the street upgrade.

Sheriee hopes the return of parking access to the street will see the return of customers. Prior to the works beginning she says they would normally see about 50 people a day, now it’s down to around 10 people.

“Sales are still terrible but the good news is that the shop is spotless!” she laughed.

Late last month store manager Danielle Volkers described the Pulteney Street upgrade as “devastating to daily takings” and donations to store.

“We look at aiming at $1000 a day in the store, we now might be making about $200. So that’s a big hit,” she said. “People think the shop is closed. It is not.”

To try to capture some customers and reduce the financial impact of the Pulteney Street roadworks, Mrs Volkers and volunteers set-up a pop-up op shop at The Salvation Army citadel in Manning Street. 

The store is owned by the Taree Salvation Army Corp and all revenue raised from the sales of donated goods is directed into the running its church, social services and welfare services. 

Mrs Volkers is hoping the community will return to the Pulteney Street store and asks that people continue to visit and donate goods.