The cool winter change is running op-shop volunteers in Katherine off their feet trying to keep up with demand for warm gear.
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The cold mornings have only just begun to make their mark, but already temperatures are dropping.
Three times last week temperatures dropped to 15 degrees, spurring a surge of people to the op-shops in town where volunteers have been stocking up warm clothes and blankets in preparation.
Vinnies coordinator Margaret Rogers said as soon as the weather turns she sees an influx of people making a beeline for their racks of jumpers.
"We have periods when we put blankets and jumpers out and no sooner are we restocking," she said.
"This time of year is very busy for us."
She said it is not just the arrival of grey nomads to the town which has driven up sales on cold weather gear, but also people from remote communities - where it is sometimes much colder, and people who do not have a home.
"We have had a lot of big groups of people come in from remote places, who don't come into town often," Mrs Rogers said.
She said she is expecting demand to increase as the season progresses, and while they have had plenty of donations more will be needed soon.
With the homelessness crisis continuing to be the worst in Australia - not only are services chronically underfunded, Katherine also sits at 31 times the national rate of homelessness - blankets are needed now more than ever.
The season has only just begun, but Dean Jones from the Katherine Doorways Hub - a drop-in centre supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness - says the start of winter brings about a multitude of requests for people seeking warmth.
According to the last sensus, more than 2500 people were experiencing homelessness in Katherine, and for some that means battling the cooler temperatures out side with little protection.
"We definitely need more blankets, and we will be needing them more in a few weeks when the weather has really set in," Mr Jones said.
"We have a lot of people who come in who can't afford to buy them, so donations are always welcome."
Donations can be made to any of the op shops in Katherine, as well as the Salvation Army and the Katherine Doorways Hub.
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