DEMAND on Bathurst charities has spiked this month with one store literally running out of clothes.
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Salvation Army store manager Stephen Barrott said Bathurst's bitter winter had left some local families struggling to stay afloat.
He said many local families were living week-to-week and finding it tough to pay for basics, including food.
"We've had people here every day asking for help, either food or clothes," Mr Barrott said.
"They get an electricity bill and can't pay it so they get an extension, but by the time they pay it off another bill comes in. They can't get ahead."
Two weeks ago, just as the worst of winter started to hit, the Salvo’s ran out of clothes to give away or sell.
"We had to go to Sydney [to another Salvation Army store] to get more," Mr Barrott said.
"We had run out here."
Mr Barrott said the Salvo's had been working with other charities in town - including St Vincent de Paul and Councillor Bobby Bourke's community op shop – to ensure struggling families didn't go without.
"If we ever need anything Bobby Bourke is always happy to help out and gives us anything they have available," he said.
Mr Barrott said the store was finding it more and more difficult to source second-hand clothes as people were holding onto their clothes longer than in previous years.
"People are finding it harder to give stuff away these days," he said.
Subsequently, the charity is always needing donations of good quality clean winter coats and blankets as well as clothing for men women and children.
"People can drop them off to the store or, if they can't get down here, they can call us and we can arrange for them to be picked up," Mr Barrott said.
Cr Bourke said this winter had been the hardest he’d seen in the decade since the op shop opened its doors.
“I’m seeing a lot of unemployed people who need a hand and others who are sleeping rough or on couches,” he said.
“I moved two guys on from the riverbank last week and found somewhere for them.”
The Salvation Army Store is at 39 Keppel Street or phone 6331 3970 to arrange for items to be collected.
The community op shop is at 8 Lions Club Dr, Kelso. Phone 6332 1799.
- Living beyond their means, page 5