With less than six weeks until Christmas two of the nations biggest charities are desperate for volunteers to staff their opshops, which are reopening as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
The Red Cross and the St Vincent De Paul Society lost many of their elderly volunteers as the pandemic took hold and lockdown lasted for months.
Australian Red Cross head of retail, Richard Wood, said a number of volunteers were retirees in high-risk groups and there was a pressing need for newcomers as shops reopened.
“Some of our older volunteers are understandably being particularly cautious as they re-enter communities post lockdown, deciding to pause their volunteering commitments,” he said on Tuesday.
“With the lifting of restrictions our shops are experiencing increased demand for our goods and services.
“Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to communities facing tough times,” he said.
Red Cross store manager in Canberra City, Natalie Hoffman, said she understands her older volunteers being cautious to re-enter the workforce due to COVID, and is asking the Canberra community to volunteer if they can.
“We’ve had a downturn in volunteers as a lot of our older workers have paused their commitment, so I’m after anybody in the community who is passionate, wants to interact with the community, and is a happy, bubbly person who just wants to help us out,” Ms Hoffman said.
“We’ve had a lot of donations recently and with the downturn we would love some passionate volunteers to help us out. Whether you just want to make some friends, need some help learning English, or have a passion for fashion, we would love to have you.”
Vinnies NSW chief executive Jack de Groot said op shops raised critical funds needed to help people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty.
In the first quarter of the financial year, there was a 20 per cent increase in the number of people seeking assistance from Vinnies’ domestic violence services.
Mr de Groot said people would need extra help in the lead-up to Christmas.
“This is coming at the worst possible time as there are significant pressures on Vinnies’ services that are driving demand up,” he said.
“We are at a point where emergency COVID unemployment payments are being withdrawn and those people will lose the safety net that was keeping them housed and fed.”
NSW reported 165 new cases of COVID-19 and one death in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday and the total was down 30 on the previous day’s tally after 50,453 tests.
The number of infected people who are in hospital fell by eight to 216, with 32 in intensive care and 15 on ventilators.
Some 94.2 per cent of people aged 16 and over had received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 91.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.
In the 12-15 age group, 80.6 per cent have had their first dose while 73.5 per cent have had both.
AAP with Newstate Media
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