Beware of the charity-goods snatchers
Phindile Mkhize, the store manager of the Highway Hospice Charity Shop in Hillcrest, urges donors to drop off their donations personally rather than rely on the goodwill of the car guards.
WHILE you may be saving a few seconds by entrusting the car guards to deliver your donations, the Highway Hospice Charity Shop in Hillcrest is not receiving the goods.
Robbie Slabbert, the health and safety chairman for Highway Hospice and the store manager, Phindile Mkhize, urge supporters of the non-profit organisation to drop off their donations at the store or call at the front desk and ask for a staff member to collect the items from their car.
The charity shop was initially situated at the Elangeni Centre in Inanda Road and had its own private parking bays. It soon outgrew the space and moved to its current St Margaret’s Road outlet and utilises public parking bays.
“The car guards go up to our donors and ask if they need help to take the donations in for them. Donors hand over the goods thinking they will deliver them on their behalf, but the items never reach the charity shop,” said Slabbert.
Mkhize said this has been an ongoing problem but lately has begun to escalate and is having a visibly negative impact on the store.
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“We have seen a decline in sales and we could possibly lose donors because of the aggressive nature of the car guards,” she said.
Mkhize confronted one of the guards when she caught him taking donations meant for the store. “He told me they were given to him. They then sell these goods right outside our charity shop to passers-by.”
Slabbert said they have contacted the police, who removed the car guards from the area, but they returned a few days later.
“The majority of the car guards are decent. There is just a minority who cause problems,” he said.
“If you have donations and they are too heavy or too much to carry, please come into the store and we will help you bring them inside,” said Slabbert.
Contact the Highway Hospice Charity Shop in Hillcrest on 031 765 7083. For larger items that need to be collected, contact 031 709 2647. The Hillcrest store is in need of kitchenware, crockery and linen items.
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