Dumping is not donating - that's what the folks at local thrift stores would like people to remember as they think about giving household items and clothing to help raise money for worthwhile causes.

There are several local thrift store that run on shoestring budgets to provide a steady revenue for their programs - programs often needed by you and me.

The thrift stores depend on donations by community members to keep their shelves stocked and their programs running, and they appreciate their many loyal donors. But from time to time, people leave their donations at the thrift store outside regular hours.

Cythera Thrift Store staff estimate they have to do a major cleanup once a month after somebody leaves their donations by the back door after hours.

When these items get left by donors during off-hours, they are often strewn about, slept in, and sometimes urinated on by the transient population in town.

While the donors had good intentions of supporting the various charities, these items are now useless.

In addition to the loss in donations, it costs money for the charity to dispose of them and it costs valuable staff and volunteer time.

Last week staff at the Ridge Meadows Hospice Thrift Store arrived in the morning to find someone had dumped their garbage by the thrift store - not donations that could be sold to raise money to run the McKenney Creek Hospice but just garbage.

One can only imagine what people are thinking - or not thinking - when they refuse to drive down to the transfer station on River Road and pay the small fee to dump their garbage.

Before you take your donations to your charity of choice, remember to check their hours of operation so they are not wasted.

And take your garbage to the dump.