Oxfam Würzburg is dependent on volunteers

Due to the corona lockdown, all Oxfam shops were closed since mid-March, including the Oxfam shop in Würzburg. It has been open again since May 4th – but many of the volunteers are age-related to the risk group. To protect themselves, many are now pausing their voluntary work. That is why the Würzburg Oxfam shop can only open on a daily basis and with very restricted times. In this situation, the shop relies on additional helpers for a transition period.

“A relatively good location in Würzburg”

In Würzburg, the situation is relatively good, says shop assistant Stefanie Hildebrandt. “Two thirds of the team came back to the store opening and the remaining third wants to be back in July,” said the speaker. There is above all a need at certain times. On Thursday and Friday mornings, volunteers are completely missing and there are also smaller teams. Due to this situation, different opening and donation acceptance times apply at the moment. “We can’t do it any differently with the reduced team,” says Hildebrandt.

In addition, the employees also have to get used to the new conditions. “Of course not everything is going perfectly, we ask for the understanding of the customers,” notes Hildebrandt. Only volunteers and no trained retail clerks are active in the store. Despite the difficult situation, everyone is highly motivated to give everything even in smaller teams. “This is really a gift. We couldn’t run the shops without the volunteers. I can really only take my hat off and be deeply grateful that it works that way,” says the shop manager.

You can also feel that people had time to clear out and eagerly want to donate. “We are pleased about that, but at the moment we would like small amounts to be donated so that we can do it organizationally.” As long as there are no helpers, this situation will not change for the time being. “But under these circumstances we are happy about every customer who comes,” says Hildebrandt.

Request for normal opening times

Oxfam is a global non-governmental organization that has been supporting people in crisis regions for more than 75 years. Due to the closure of the shop and the missing helpers, sales revenue is now missing where it is urgently needed: in countries of the global south. For example, shopping in one of the second-hand shops helps people – for example in Ethiopia – to receive farm animals to ensure their livelihood, or that Oxfam can help victims of environmental disasters with clothing, food and hygiene products. That is why Oxfam would like to reopen the shop in Würzburg at normal times as soon as possible.

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• Wurzburg

• Maria Faiß

• Corona virus

• Volunteering

• Customers

• Closing time

• Employees and staff

• Problems and crises

• Risk groups and risk classes

• Shop

• donate

• Environmental disasters

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