Items sold through the shop raise ­needed money to support those less fortunate.

“Donations always help,” Maitland store manager Colleen Williams said.

“It’s obvious where the funds go while all of our Red Cross stores are screaming for stock at winter.”

Money raised from shop sales helps people less fortunate which includes assistance after natural disasters.

The Maitland store has experienced high demand for warm clothes since the April superstorm.

“With the floods we’ve seen people need warm clothing,” Ms Williams said.

“We get some fantastic donations from the public but we always need more at winter. We don’t get many blankets though and we could really use some.”

Red Cross shops community engagement manager Kate Dear said there was a winter woollies-superhero ready to burst out of most wardrobes.

“It is as easy as donating a woolly jumper or a warm coat that you probably won’t wear this year,” she said. 

“Your daggy jumper, unwanted coat or ridiculous beanie can be turned into a phone call to check on an elderly person living alone, a shower and a hot meal for a young homeless person, or clean drinking water for someone affected by a disaster.” 

Ms Williams said people could drop clothes of at any store and the items would be distributed to those outlets that need them most.

“I wouldn’t be able to do that without the help of the staff-volunteers and Sue Halket in particular,” she said.

For more information visit redcross.org.au/shops or call 1800 339 888.