Port Macquarie is experiencing a rush of donated items as residents spend their COVID-19 isolation clearing out wardrobes, according to charity stores.
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Most charity stores were closed due to concerns about staff and shoppers contracting coronavirus from May to July.
Port Macquarie Lifeline Shop Gordon Street completed cleaning and readying of social-isolation guidelines during the eight week lockdown, said retail coordinator Gemma McDonald.
"Everyone has been very supportive of us and we have had people come back through the door as we reopened," she said.
"Everyone is following the new rules for social distancing. We have hand sanitiser available and we are wiping down all hard surfaces.
"It gave us a good chance to do a big clean up and complete some tasks that we couldn't normally do.
"The volunteers suffered the most because they did not have a place to come and socialise.
"At the start of the isolation period we did have a little bit of dumping but when people realised we weren't taking donations they were understanding."
Ms McDonald said donations have recommenced since the Op Shop reopened.
She said all Port Macquarie charity stores would be experiencing the same flow-on effects.
"The public has had time off, had a chance to go through their wardrobes and been able to clear things out," she said.
"We have definitely seen an increase in donations. I would say that is because people have had the time to do it."
Charity and second-hand shops faced unique challenges during the coronavirus pandemic because they rely so heavily on donations.
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW North Coast communications manager Robin Osborne said shops had closed during the lockdown due to concerns for both staff and shoppers about COVID-19.
"The shops were closed. We did have staff making sure that the collection bins were being collected on a regular basis, to not cause an eyesore in the town," he said.
"There was significant concern both by volunteers and by us that as an organisation we have a responsibility to make sure they were not exposed.
"Certainly during the lockdown residents were more inclined to do a spring clean and collect their items to be donated at a later date. In the first couple of weeks of shops opening there have been many donations of good quality, which is great to see.
"We are taking a measured response to re-opening our shops based on a number of factors, including the age of our volunteers and the number of reported cases in a location."
Mr Osborne said volunteers at a higher risk of contracting the virus due to age or compromised immune system have been asked to prioritise their health and step away until it is safe to return.
People are asked to adhere to social distancing measures and maintain distance.
There are additional safety measures such as isolating donations for 48 hours before they are placed into sorting and sale, volunteers being equipped with personal protective equipment, increased cleaning prior to shops re-opening and daily cleaning of hot spot areas.
RSPCA Op Shop Port Macquarie's Jenny Bucton said volunteers have been very supportive and comfortable to return.
"Unfortunately we had to close the RSPCA op shop for eight weeks to protect our valued customers and staff. During that time we worked behind the scenes, safely, making improvements within the shop," she said.
"Unfortunately we didn't receive any financial assistance so we have been very grateful to receive donations from all who have used the time to de-clutter, which has been a massive help as we all work so very hard to support our shelter.
"The shop has been very busy since reopening, especially with winter clothing. We had been closed on Saturday mornings but very happy to say we will reopen this Saturday (July 11)."
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