Oxfam has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to help its high street shops deal with an anticipated deluge of donations.
The charity is preparing to welcome back customers to 41 stores across Scotland on Monday, following Nicola Sturgeon's announcement allowing non-essential shops to reopen.
Oxfam shops in England and Wales have already reopened and saw record-breaking sales post-lockdown.
Scottish shop teams are now bracing for a significant number of donations following lockdown decluttering and people seeking to offload unwanted Christmas gifts.
The charity says it has a shortfall of hundreds of volunteers in Scotland, with existing ones unable to return due to shielding.
More volunteers are needed to help sort and sell the donations in order to raise as much money as possible for Oxfam’s vital work around the world.
Tom Richardson, Oxfam's Interim Head of Retail, said: "We know from the last lockdown that people will have taken the chance to have a good declutter and we’re anticipating a deluge of generous donations.
"As we prepare to get back to business in a Covid-safe way we’re encouraging people from all walks of life who want to live in a fairer, more sustainable world to consider giving one of the greatest gifts of all: their time."
Volunteers are asked to as little as a few hours a week of their time and can take up a range of vital roles, from serving customers to sorting donations and arranging window displays.
Each shop typically relies on a team of 30 dedicated volunteers and one or two staff, with more than 1,400 volunteers required across the country.
Oxfam shops will enforce strict safety measures when they reopen, including social distancing, hand sanitiser, masks and gloves for staff, screens at tills, regular and frequent cleaning, closed changing rooms and encouraging contactless payment.
As well as volunteers, Oxfam is also appealing for good quality donations, including clothing, books, music and bric-a-brac.
Oxfam’s five tips on how to donate
- Clean things . Wherever possible, put clothes and textiles through the washing machine and wipe down solid surfaces
- Have a think about what items charities can sell. Ask yourself: “Would someone I know buy this?” If the answer is “Yes”, we’d love to receive it.
- Call ahead when you’re ready to donate. Check the best time for your local shop.
- Stagger your donations , rather than bringing everything at once. Not everyone has lots of storage space and the charity be delighted to help clear your clutter from your home whenever the time is right.
- Remember to Gift Aid your donation. This scheme allows charities to claim 25% extra on the sale of your donations.
In advance of Scottish shops re-opening, people are invited to register their interest in volunteering online .
