Vinnies – V for Volunteer
DUBBO’S Vinnies store opened yesterday (Wednesday, October 27), and while the doors are open and there’s plenty of stock, the shop is in dire need of extra hands on deck, according to manager Shane Clarke.
He told Dubbo Photo News that so many people have been hammered by the pandemic and volunteer organisations have in many ways also suffered.
“We’re all struggling to get volunteers to help, it’s hard, we’ve got probably 15 people at the moment who are on the books regularly. If we could double that it would ease the workload on our current volunteers immensely,” Mr Clarke said.
“With more volunteers we could also get more stock on the floor, we’d have more people interacting with clients on the shop floor, and we’d have more sales which means we could help more people out with their rents being paid, or their electricity bills, getting them food for their cupboards – there’s nothing worse than going hungry.
“Volunteering does feel good, knowing you’re able to help others – many people don’t thing about it when they’re younger. We get many volunteers who are around that retirement age and they’ve got the time up their sleeves to come in and volunteer.”
Mr Clarke said the new store
is in the most amazing location – central and visible – and believes that alone will mean more people through the doors, more donations, more sales and more capacity for Vinnies to help the most vulnerable local residents.
“It’s fantastic, apparently this part of the CBD has the highest
foot traffic in town, right at our doorstep, so compared to our old shop, the amount of people who are just going to be able to wander in off the street is going to be phenomenal,” he said.
“The more people we get through the doors, the more people we can service and help, it’s
just fantastic to be able to help your neighbour.
“This is a fun place to volunteer,” he laughed, “We’re always joking at each other’s expense, it’s the Aussie thing to do.”
Anyone wishing to volunteer or find out more can call 6882 2845.