By DAN RYAN

Gutless thieves have stolen from our town's most generous groups, causing thousands of dollars of damage, to steal property charities say they would give away for free, if only asked.

Volunteers along Macquarie Street have shown up to share low-cost food, clothing and goods with the Cowra community, only to find shattered glass, property damage and leftovers of theft, night after night, leaving volunteers to clean up the mess - and pick up the damage bill.

The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society op-shops have been targeted by cowardly crooks, using power tools to force entry or relying on brute force to steal from some of our kindest community members.

The Salvation Army's Jodi McInnes said that the thieves were only hurting their own community.

"This is the fourth break in in ten weeks. We’ve had a spate of them, it’s so distressing for our volunteers." Ms McInnes said.

"The sad thing is, if they come in on a Wednesday between 12 and 2, we’ll give them everything they need, no judgement...but this causes a lot of damage. I’d much prefer for them to come in and say they need help." she said.

Ms McInnes and the Salvos have been under the pump throughout winter, serving residents in need while trying to manage security.

"We’ve given away a thousand dollars of goods to the community but it’s probably cost us up to five thousand dollars in repairs again and again. Just think of the wider implications, you’re diminishing what we can do for the wider community," she said.

It's a hard hit for any volunteer, and Ms McInnes said it was simply 'exhausting.'

"The volunteers are not so much threatened, just really disheartened and disillusioned that people will break in and rob from a charity that’ll otherwise give things to them. Particularly when it takes two days to clean up and costs money to repair the building," she said.

The Salvos have spent money on security upgrades, but Ms McInnes wants to get back to the primary objective of helping others.

"There have been security enhancements but how far can you go?" she asked.

"We still need winter clothing, bedding -- come and shop and support us, we need to pay for the damages."

At Vinnies, it's a story all too common, as volunteers repair structural damage incurred as thieves gained entry using power tools to break down the building with brute force.

Long term Vinnies volunteers Anthony and Graham said they were confused as to why people would steal from the charity.

"I've been coming here every day, we had three locks on the clothing bin with a chain and they've gone straight through it." said Anthony.

It's become an almost normal occurrence, with stranger thefts, like that of pet food, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of volunteers.

Anthony said that Vinnies doesn't exist to profit, but to help; "We often give things away, if I see someone who needs help. You've got to ask though, we're volunteers - we're not here to make money."

The frustrated volunteers echoed the sentiment from the Salvos: any person in need can just ask, and avoid the costs of damage caused by breaking in, saving time, money and dignity for those giving their all to help our community.