Dubbo residents are finding it hard to donate clothes and other items to charity with a number of opportunity shops around the city unable to accept donations.
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Dubbo Anglican Church minister Brett Watterson said due to COVID lockdown last year their storage facilities are full.
"We've basically had to stop accepting or limit donations, because we haven't got the room to hold them," Mr Watterson said.
"We have found a lot more people are using op-shops (to donate) now and we've only got a limited storage capacity that we are now thinking about extending. All the increase in donations is basically because of COVID; everyone was at home for a long time and cleaned out their houses for stuff they don't need anymore but we still get some stuff that we have to get rid of."
Most op-shops around town admitted Christmas and the school holiday period was the busiest time for donations but all of them said donations have slowed since school had started again.
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Australian Red Cross Head of Retail, Richard Wood echoed Mr Watterson's statements.
"After the COVID-19 lockdowns, we noticed an increase in donations in some locations as people had more time around their homes.
"We welcome quality donation at any time of year, which helps us provide essential goods to our communities while also raising vitals funds for our services," Mr Wood said.
"Our rule of thumb when sorting your pre-loved goods is, if you'd give it to a friend, then we'd love the donation."
Administrators for online donations groups with a focus on the Dubbo region said they had also seen an increase in donations.
Pay it Forward Dubbo is a Facebook group in which people post items they no longer have need for that others can come and collect for free.
Our rule of thumb when sorting your pre-loved goods is, if you'd give it to a friend, then we'd love the donation.
- Australian Red Cross Head of Retail, Richard Wood
One of the group admin's Amy Elizabeth said they had seen a massive increase in action on the page over the holiday period.
"There were calls out for food items, Christmas presents and more. We were really blessed by local businesses such as ARB who was giving members the opportunity to receive gift cards. Multiple church organisation were giving food hampers. The look of relief when these items were dropped off were touching," Ms Elizabeth said.
Ms Elizabeth feels the group is another method for donations.
"It's just another avenue they can take, there were lots of opportunity shops closed over the Christmas period and we were able to step in and help."
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