Warrnambool Red Cross op-shop closes doors after 24 years due to lack of volunteers

Red Cross volunteer shop supervisor and zone chair Linda Carr said the op-shop was forced to close its doors for the final time on Friday due to a lack of volunteers.

The Wangoom branch chair said during COVID-19 the Koroit Street store had reduced its operating hours to two days a week as a result of a lack of staff.

Prior to COVID-19 there would be up to seven people working a shift, five-and-a-half days a week. For the final few years during the pandemic there has been a total of five people to call on.

She said a number of op-shops were staffed by older volunteers who took the opportunity during lockdowns to retire or weren't comfortable to come out in public during the pandemic.

"You can't blame them," Mrs Carr said. "We tried for three years. We were locked down and then we tried to get volunteers and it just didn't happen. We need 40 people. That was the minimum to keep a shop open five-and-a-half days a week and we couldn't get four.

"We haven't been able to entice them back and we haven't been able to entice anyone else back. A lot of people are very sad and say 'I love this op-shop' but they work or can't volunteer."

Mrs Carr said it was a similar story at other city op-shops which also found it challenging to get volunteers. "I've heard from the foster care (op-shop) and Salvation Army and ones that I've called - they're all short," she said.

"They've had a base of people that have kept going (during COVID-19) but they'd like more volunteers. Everyone would like more volunteers."

Mrs Carr said the Red Cross store's remaining stock and fixtures were given to other south-west op-shops and some of the furniture went to the Salvation Army for its accommodation units.

"We haven't thrown anything out," she said.

Surplus items not needed by local stores were donated to Melbourne's Wesley Mission which she said were distributed clothing to newly-arrived migrants and homeless people.

"Its great to be able to share the stuff with other local op-shops," Mrs Carr said. "We're very happy to be able to participate in other programs in the area and keep items in the region to help people out because that's what it's all about."

She said south-west residents had used the Koroit Street Red Cross op-shop as a shopfront and contact point for inquiries and donations and said all of its other services would continue.

"Red Cross is still here and things are still happening," Mrs Carr said.

"If people want to volunteer for Red Cross they can help with emergency services, patient transport and branches will take people to help with fundraising or they can knit for trauma teddies if they want to."

For more information about Red Cross south-west services or to volunteer, call 1800 131 701.

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