By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Emerald’s op shop volunteers arrived to find a pile of rubbish dumped in front of the store on Sunday 23 March.
The shop’s long-time manager, Magda Lane, was left shaken and disappointed by the sight, particularly as many of the volunteers are retired and work hard to support the community.
“The pile was huge. It wasn’t just a few bits and pieces – it was household items, cutlery, even furniture. It was overwhelming,” Ms Lane said.
“I had a bad back and couldn’t come in on Monday, so I called for extra help, but it was still a massive job – we were left to deal with it all.”
The unwanted donations were dumped in front of the shop, which sits on Church Street in Emerald. Due to its location, people have easy access to the car park and veranda, but unfortunately, this convenience has sometimes led to others using the area as a dumping ground for their unwanted goods.
While the op shop happily accepts donations, Ms Lane said the situation has gone beyond acceptable limits, especially with some people leaving broken or dirty items.
“We are grateful for the generosity of the community, but it’s important that people understand the limitations. We can’t take everything. Things like old furniture or muddy, broken items are a huge challenge for us to dispose of – and it’s something we pay for,” she said.
The Emerald Op Shop team, which includes around seven to eight volunteers on a busy day, quickly stepped up to clean up the mess.
Despite the overwhelming volume, Ms Lane said not everything was a complete loss.
“Some of the things were actually useful and in good condition, but most of it was just things we can’t use,” she said.
“There were some beautiful items that people set aside, but it’s hard to deal with the sheer volume of what we receive.”
While the situation was frustrating, the long-time manager said she’s grateful for the community members who still understand what’s appropriate to donate.
“I’ve seen more people asking lately, ‘Is this something you’d like?’ That really makes a difference. Most people are very considerate, but unfortunately, it’s the small percentage of people who don’t respect the shop’s needs that we remember,” she said.
In light of this, Ms Lane urged anyone wishing to donate to remember the shop’s guidelines.
“Please keep donations small and manageable. We can’t accept things like electrical items or large pieces of furniture. If it’s not something we can sell, we’d rather people find another way to dispose of it, like through the council’s hard rubbish collection service,” Ms Lane said.
The Emerald Op Shop has been serving the community for over 30 years and relies heavily on its volunteers to keep things running smoothly.
For Ms Lane and her volunteers, dealing with unexpected challenges like this one can be disheartening, but she said they remain determined to keep the shop open and running for those who truly need it.
“It’s disappointing, but we keep going. We’ve had to deal with tough situations before, and we will again. But we ask for people’s understanding – please think before you drop things off and remember that we’re a charity shop, not a waste disposal service,” she said.
If you have goods to donate, remember to be mindful of what you’re leaving. Donations should be clean, usable, and manageable.
The Emerald Op Shop is there to help those in need, but the team is also asking for your help in making sure the donations are beneficial, not a burden.
“If it’s something you won’t use because of its condition, chances are others won’t want it either. Please dispose of it in the bin, not by donating it to us,” she said.
For more information on the Emerald Op Shop’s donation guidelines, visit their website or drop by the store during opening hours.
