The Taree Lifeline store has made the hard call to no longer have donation bins outside the back of the store.
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The decision was made as every morning the volunteers would turn up to find the contents of the bin strewn on the ground, with theft of donations vandalisation of the bins occuring on a regular basis.
The bins were newly installed late last year to replace bins that had been burnt and the building graffitied in October 2020.
Taree Lifeline manager, Heather Hands said that people had been doing one of two things - putting a small person through the slot to throw bags out onto the ground, where they would be torn apart, or vandalising the bins to get in.
"Monday mornings were our worst because it gave them the weekend to go through it, but it became a daily event. We'd come in to clothes and items spread in a six metre radius. They were just going through and taking what they wanted. They were leaving clothes. We don't know what they were taking - obviously anything of value or things they could resell," Heather said
The shop is completely manned by volunteers and Heather says having to clean up the mess poses safety concerns.
"I'm the only paid worker here. And I'm asking them to be going through stuff that's been scattered all over the ground, stuff that has been rained on, broken glass. It became a safety issue for my volunteers, and their safety is obviously of utmost importance," Heather said.
She is also disappointed by the disrespect shown by the vandals to the items that people have donated.
"What I'm concerned about is that people drop off their donations in good faith, that we're going to sort through them and place them out for sale. And in a lot of cases those donations have an emotional attachment to them, it might be clothes of their dad that is deceased. To see them just thrown all over the ground is horrific," Heather said.
"It's heartbreaking."
Alternative arrangements have been made so people can still donate goods. Lifeline will pick up donations from people's homes. Thursdays are allocated to small items like clothes. Bigger items such as furniture can be picked up on other days. During the week you can take donations to the front counter, or leave them in the bins outside the front of the store which are available from 9am to 4pm.
"We want to encourage people to still bring their donations in. Obviously Lifeline's business depends on what we do here, so we don't want to see our donations drop dramatically, so we need to offer an extended service to allow for that," Heather said.
To arrange pick up of donations call Taree Lifeline on 6552 6544 or email taree@lifelinemidcoast.org.au.
Taree Lifeline Shop is at 40-50 Albert St, Taree.
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
