Charity store becomes dumping ground

EVERYBODY’S volunteer Ruth Lucas begins another cleanup at the Scout Lane depot. TC240708CA01

BY CATHY ASPLIN

When Ruth Taylor-Lucas arrived at ‘Everybody’s’ earlier this week she was faced with a mess that is becoming a regular occurrence at the charity shop.

Furniture, a television and carpet had been left outside the door, but as it had rained the items were all ruined.

Several plastic carrier bags were lined up by the entrance, but someone had been through them, taking what they wanted and scattering the remaining rubbish over the ground.

Amongst the bizarre items left included a shaving brush head, a used water filter, a single shoe and an empty air freshener can. A box was full of papers, including personal documents, school newsletters, bank letters and pamphlets — nothing useful for resale. Essentially all of the items will have to be disposed of.

‘‘I don’t drive so I have to ask my family to help or pay to have it taken away, which wastes money that could be better used in the community.’’

Mrs Taylor-Lucas, who has been a volunteer at the store for over 30 years, says the mess she faces at the start of each week is becoming disheartening.

‘‘Everybody’s can do a lot of good for the community, but it’s getting harder and harder to do that It’s depressing really. I’m spending my time cleaning up the mess and disposing of rubbish instead of being able to recycle items for sale. Many of the things left are of no use at all and it seems people have simply cleaned up at home and dumped the junk here. Why do they think we want their rubbish?’’

Mrs Taylor-Lucas says a large number of items donated to Everybody’s can be recycled so the profit can be returned to the community, but a small number of people are using it as a dumping ground.

‘‘There are also a few who are stealing the profits from the community by helping themselves to items.’’

Everybody’s has a room open during the week (8am-4pm) for people to drop off donations, allowing the items to stay dry. But of course this means less scrupulous people can help themselves.

‘‘I know one woman who does this on a regular basis, so now we are keeping an eye on people in the area and writing down car number plates. But we can’t be here all the time so we have talked to the Police.’’

Items that are successfully recycled at Everybody’s are sold at the weekly sale on Thursday mornings (from 7.30am - 12 noon). Mrs Lucas says cars are usually queued up on Scout Lane from 7am for the bargains.

‘‘There are many supportive people in the community, it’s just a few people who spoil it and waste our time.’’