John Marcon: Op shop donations vital to those less fortunate

Groups of volunteers have to sort through donated goods and check that they are functional. Photo / APN

The lethargy of post-Christmas gluttony has worn off, releasing a new-found energy for a last-minute project before the old year is tossed aside.

The house, garage and the shed are full of yesteryear's goods suddenly superseded by the season's gifts.

Household clothes and goods, which until Christmas were essential to our lives, are instantly superfluous, out of fashion and beyond their use-by date.

Wardrobes that groaned all year under an unbearable weight of clothes are callously stripped.

Serviceable appliances tremble in fear of redundancy.

Gran's collection of LPs that occupied a corner of a child's bedroom following the demise of the record player a decade ago are finally beyond nostalgic protection.

Even those most untouchable of old treasures - children's soft toys - are given a final hug and marked for disposal.

The books that no-one will ever read join those so well-read the corners are dog-eared.

Then the big question arises: "What shall we do with them?"

It seems a waste to heave them into the rubbish bag so an alternative comes to mind: "Let's give them to the op shop!"

What an excellent idea. Those of us linked to op shops are profoundly grateful to the thousands of people who generously donate clothes, appliances, kitchenware, shoes, bags, books, magazines and more that enable us to keep our services to the community going.

Shops operated by service organisations such as the Red Cross or Hospice earn money to help people with particular needs.

Church-based op shops use proceeds to part-fund activities with the elderly or parent, pre-school or youth groups, and to maintain their community halls.

Other organisations such as the City Mission and the Salvation Army fund community services on a larger scale.

Whichever one you choose, your gifts will be very welcome - with one or two qualifications.

While we recognise that used goods are by definition well-used, we do ask that they be fit for future use.

Clothes with buttons missing or immovable stains and garments that are seriously stretched or otherwise un-wearable are just as useless to our customers as they are to you.

That tingly toaster is just as likely to make our hair stand on end as yours. Pots with no lids, cracked cups and old heavy computer monitors are simply impractical.

As well, the accumulated grime of a year or two in the back shed can leave goods very dirty so please clean them first.

That 20-year-old Encyclopaedia Britannica in its five boxes is virtually useless in the internet age despite its pristine condition.

Broken furniture, incomplete appliances, non-functional radios and electronic toys without the electronics are just as impossible for us to fix as for you.

It's helpful if books have all their pages - there's nothing quite like arriving at the last chapter of a 600-word potboiler to find the key pages missing.

Thirty-year-old magazines may have historic value but are almost impossible to even give away.

We don't have many one-legged clients so we prefer shoes in pairs and with some life left in them.

Larger items will be suitable for the annual fair where they might not fit in a small op shop and most of us will happily pick up from your home if necessary although we do reserve the right to take only that which we deem useful to others.

What do we do with your goods?

First a group of people sorts them, selects ones appropriate for the season and checks they are functional. The shops are staffed almost entirely by volunteers.

Customers include students, young parents, children and bargain-hunters - people of all ages and circumstances.

Op shops enable practical recycling, provide necessities for some who could not otherwise afford them, and are a resource for the whole community.

As well, the cash surpluses fund community services that enhance all of our lives.

And while we would always return to you free any item you later decided you wished you had kept, you would not be the first to see a garment or appliance that used to be yours at a very reasonable price and buy it back.

John Marcon assists in the opportunity shop at St Paul's Church in Milford.