A $28,000 clothing and homewares donation from Australian department store chain Harris Scarfe to four Newcastle Lifeline op-shops has helped the charity further fund its vital suicide prevention services.
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Brand new men's and women's clothing, accessories and household items were donated to Lifeline shops in Toronto, Cardiff, Hamilton North and Wallsend following the closure of the Harris Scarfe store in Kogarah in June.
Norma Arguete, the Newcastle hub manager for Lifeline, said the donation was a "win-win for everybody".
"We're gaining more sales and our customers are able to purchase quality Harris Scarfe clothes," she said.
"[The donation] will help us raise more funds for our suicide prevention services including 24/7 telephone counselling line and a face-to-face service that we provide to customers.
"We did receive a few jumpers which helped in our sales over the winter months.
"Without donors like Harris Scarfe and the generosity of such a big business, we wouldn't be able to provide our services to customers."
Mrs Argueta said the donated items has been flying off the shelves of the four Newcastle stores, adding that customers were "very happy to grab some bargains".
Simon Burrett, general manager and marketing at Harris Scarfe, said the company, established in Adelaide in 1849, has previously made donations to charity organisations.
However, the team at the Kogarah store felt strongly about donating excess stock to regional charities.
"Harris Scarfe Kogarah requested that the stock was donated to Lifeline exclusively due to their strong presence in rural NSW and ability to help people in the local area," Mr Burrett said.
"They wanted to donate the stock to a charity and to give something back to the community that they had served for years."
Proceeds from Lifeline store sales goes back into supporting the community.
Money is used to fund Lifeline's crisis support and suicide prevention services such as its 24-hour telephone counselling line (13 11 14) and face-to-face counselling.
Lifeline also funds measures that aim to assist with suicide and crisis prevention across the nation.