As temperatures drop, Canberra's charity shops are preparing for peak season, but while many have closed their doors due to coronavirus, some have remained open for the community's most vulnerable.
Eight Vinnies stores in Canberra have remained open in the lead up to winter as an important resource for those who need it and to raise funds to provide food and other assistance for people doing it tough.
St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn director of commercial operations Lindsay Rae said winter was a busy period and typically when the most funds were raised throughout the year.
"Without the sale of these goods we have less money to provide assistance to those in need who turn to us," Mr Rae said.
"Many people in the community also rely on Vinnies shops as a way to make initial contact with us to ask for help, or simply as a social interaction."
"Sadly, with social distancing requirements those people who were already feeling isolated and lonely are now more so."
As Canberra's icy winter temperatures start to set in, Mr Rae said there were many people who required warm clothing and bedding.
"Children have grown since last winter and need larger shoes and clothing, many people won't have the money to support larger electricity bills at home and will have to rug up," Mr Rae said.
"As the COVID-19 situation unfolds, more and more people will be turning to us for help and we must be able to meet the need. For this reason we want to keep as many centres open as possible."
Strict social distancing measures have been introduced at the open stores which are Mitchell, Belconnen, Kippax, Gungahlin, Dickson, Weston Creek, Phillip and Tuggeranong.
Customers must be two metres apart from each other and use hand sanitiser before shopping.
"Each shop is adhering to a strict maximum number of people within the centre, and this number is posted on the front of the shop," Mr Rae said.
"Customers are asked to wait outside if and when the limit is reached."
Donations are still being accepted at most open stores however quarantining measures limit the amount a store can accept.
"We have put in place measures in the shops that avoid handling of the products prior to quarantine," Mr Rae said.
"These donations are quarantined for 72 hours before sorting ... gloves are used in the sorting process which is our normal policy."
Mr Rae said Vinnies had registered with the Australian Taxation Office and was investigating their employee's eligibility for payments including JobKeeper.
All Vinnies stores are closed over the Easter long weekend but the eight selected centres will reopen on Tuesday.
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