Vinnies’ vandalism cleanup handled by community

A cleanup callout has turned “terrible, pointless vandalism” into a heartening community gathering, mere hours after Picton rallied for its Vinnies’ shop.

The St Vincent de Paul charity shop in Picton had their home items lockup broken into and vandalised on Wednesday, October 15, with furnishings destined for needy homes destroyed and needing thrown out.

Shop manager Marianne Govaerth said the staff were devastated by the find, but “overwhelmed” by the offers to help.

“It was just terrible, pointless vandalism”, she says. “Smashing glass items and mugs all over the floor, cutting up beds and pillows with knives, it was everything to furnish a house which ended up destined for two large skips.

“It would have taken us as a volunteer team days to clean up”. However, thanks to a range of community members rallying to help, Friday October 17 saw willing volunteers flowing in and out of the lockup.

“People just put their hands up or started coming from out the blue to help us out and turned days of work for our volunteers into less than two hours”, says Marianne.

“Two days after we had the Men’s Shed, Coastguard, Fire Brigade, Queen Charlotte College students and teachers, Four Square and Fresh Choice staff Spotty and Stu, and the many more from the community who we didn’t even know that slipped away before we could thank them.”

The vandalism has left the Vinnies store short of large home furnishing items, which would otherwise fund their community pantry efforts.

Despite having to start with “absolutely nothing” in the store, Marianne is heartened after what has been “a difficult few days”.

“There’s not much left to give those who come in”, she says. “But, people have been generous already starting to donate back in as well with beds and sets of drawers.

“It’s just been pleasing to see everyone jump in in our time of need.”