Select charity stores around the Bega Valley Shire have reported experiencing verbal abuse from some customers over vaccine checks to enter their stores.
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Some of the stores reported having a surge in customers after the lockdowns ended in August, but that business dropped by up to 50% once the vaccine checks were required on October 11 under public health orders.
Many volunteers and employees working at charity shops around the shire have reported experienced backlash from customers, some of whom were fully-vaccinated, about the checks that are being conducted at entry to their stores.
Reports have come that people have been questioning the checks, giving their opinions on the requirement "quite loudly", and even swearing at staff and volunteers.
Some staff members experiencing harassment day after day were even reluctant to return to work in fear having to constantly come up against disgruntled customers.
There was also the sense of exhaustion after first having to ask people to check-in and then enforce mask mandates, and now vaccination status checks.
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There has also been feedback from customers, including online messages directed to managers or to store social media sites about why these stores are not considered "essential services".
These stores provide much needed assistance to people who are for example experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic violence and need to purchase affordable clothing, blankets, or personal hygiene products.
Some stores are still trying to help people in need by providing service to people in their cars or outside the store who might desperately need items.
Staff from these stores wanted to remind the public that they do no make the regulations, and were ensuring compliance to avoid a $5,000 fine.
The feedback from Vinnies in Bega however was that overall people have been very understanding except for a few select customers who had not been able to access the store.
Director of commercial operations Lindsay Rae said that business in Vinnies centres across regional NSW was significantly down from last year.
He said that business dropped initially when wearing masks became compulsory for shopping and continued in a downwards trend when they reopened under the double vaccination health order.
Bega District News attempted to contact NSW Health and a range of relevant Ministers to pose the question of why charity stores were not deemed "essential services" under the current health order.
At the time of publication, no response had yet been given.