TRUCKLOADS of donations, left on the footpath outside St Vincent de Paul have been driven straight to the Orange tip after being rifled through and exposed to the elements over the last few days.
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St Vincent de Paul spokesperson Bob Lulham who was on duty early yesterday morning at St Vincent de Paul along with several other volunteers, clearing the donated items that had been strewn across the footpath outside the welfare centre in McNamara Street said the items could not be recycled for distribution.
“Unfortunately people have come along and urinated on them - they’re a real mess and they just have to go,” he said.
Mr Lulham said he is appealing to the public not to leave items on the footpaths if the donation bins are full.
He said the experience yesterday morning is nothing new and several loads have been cleared over the holiday season.
“We come every morning to clear the donations, and we would ask people to please come back during working hours when St Vincent de Paul is open rather than just leave items stacked up against the building or beside the bins.”
He said the Christmas/new year period is a time when people traditionally clear out unwanted items and donate them in the hope they can be used by others.
“But we do also get some rubbish,” he said.
Mr Lulham said many people are also not aware that donation bins have been removed nearby at the Salvation Army.
“I think we are getting a lot more items now because of that situation,” he said.
St Vincent de Paul can accept donations between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday if the bins are full.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
