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Coronavirus crisis: Good Sammy closes WA stores to safeguard staff

Headshot of Sarah Steger
Sarah StegerThe West Australian
Good Sammy has promised the charity shops will open again once it’s safe.
Camera IconGood Sammy has promised the charity shops will open again once it’s safe. Credit: Tamra Carr/Geraldton Guardian

Good Sammy has closed 29 shops across WA for the first time in the store’s 62-year history.

Each warehouse employs people with disabilities and has been temporarily closed amid the rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak in WA, with chief executive Melanie Kiely saying the difficult decision had been made with a heavy heart.

Thanking staff across all the stores, Ms Kiely said each employee had “poured their heart and soul into everything they do”.

“I am so proud to be part of an organisation that clearly demonstrates its values," she said, adding her thanks to the stores’ supporters and customers.

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“Thank you for the messages of support and for your unwavering loyalty, we will be back.

“We will be open again in the future, when it is safe.”

Donations will still be accepted at the yellow collection bins located at the Good Sammy stores in Butler, Morley, Midland, Osborne Park, Subiaco, Willetton, Gosnells, Mandurah, South Lake, Mt Lawley and the Canning Vale warehouse.

The processing centre, logistics operations, NDIS services and head office support will continue as an essential service.

Ms Kiely said it was the stores’ priority to look after the health and safety of its staff and its community of “loyal supporters and customers”.

“We are working with staff affected by this announcement to provide a range of benefits and options to help tide them over ... there will also be opportunities for redeployment into our essential services,” she said.

“We will be working through all the options with each person individually to find the right solutions.”

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