Giving rubbish costs charity more

BY JULIA WADE

Through the holiday season charities can often become inundated with extra readily-appreciated donations thanks to visitors clearing out baches, the annual decluttering of home cupboards and perhaps a regifting of a Christmas gift or two.

However, along with quality clothes, kitchen utensils, toys and other resaleable products dropped into Mangawhai St John op shop in recent weeks, manager Frances Kennelly says a quantity of rubbish and unsaleable items were also left at their door after closing hours, especially through the peak holiday season.

“While people’s generosity of donated items is always appreciated, we can only sell quality products,” she says. “Sometimes we have unpacked product covered in rodent faeces and mattresses that are ripped with blood stains – they can’t be reused or sold… it’s a health and safety issue.”

Having to pay for the disposal of trash and unsaleable items costs the charity organisation Kennelly says, taking essential funds away from the St John service.

Besides the rubbish issue, the shop outdoor drop-off area was also vandalised recently, with bags containing donated items ‘ripped open and flung around’, possibly as the intruders looked for products to sell. Due to a lack of available lockable storage, the space is also used to store stock and is open for after-hour donations. However, some people also use it as a ‘dump and run’ of unsuitable items, leaving behind a costly mess for the dedicated St John volunteers to pick up Kennelly says.

“If people want to donate furniture and large items that’s great, we are interested, however we only ask if they please contact us first about it,” she says. “We definitely welcome and appreciate the many wonderful gifted items from visitors and the community, we’re just asking everyone to be mindful of what they leave.”

Left at the St John op shop doorstep, rubbish mixed in with resaleable items. Manager Frances Kennelly wants people to consider the quality and condition of what they are donating. PHOTO/SUPPLIED