The travelling Vinnies manager has been on the road for six months, bouncing from charity shop to charity shop, filling in where she is needed most.

She is the only person to have worked in every single store in the NT, from Alice Springs, to Tennant Creek and Katherine.

"I'm being pulled in each and every direction to fill in where there is a need, and I don't see a time when that will slow down," she said.

The charity organisation, which works to combat social injustice has eleven stores in the NT, but not enough volunteers to keep them up and running.

"There is a lack of volunteers across the NT," Ms Lovegrove said.

"Different times of the year it can be very difficult."

With less hands sorting donations and no one to put stock out onto the floor, a store is in jeopardy of closing for a period - and the flow on affects can impact many in the community.

Despite thousands of people relying on the organisation, volunteers have fallen to the wayside - mainly due to busy lives, Ms Lovegrove said.

"Someone sleeping rough might not be able to buy a jumper in the colder months, and with less sales going through, less money is flowed into the community."

In the six short months since Ms Lovegrove was thrown into the travelling position, she has spent just one week at home in Darwin.

She has learnt to pack light, and struggled through bitter cold snaps in Alice Springs, completely unprepared for the climate.

Starting work with Vinnies just over a year ago she was based at a store in Casuarina, Darwin.

But when the opportunity arose to fill a position in Katherine - her first assignment - she jumped at the chance.

From there, she has travelled hundreds of dusty kilometres to fill in where there are staffing shortages - mainly manager positions.

Each time, she brings new perspective to the store and implements as many ideas as possible in the short time frame she has.

With no family commitments holding her back, and so much of the NT to explore, she said she has enjoyed every minute.

"It is nice to spend time at home every once in a while, but I always miss being on the road and mixing with different people," she said.

"I enjoy not knowing where I will be going next and meeting all of the volunteers."

According to Vinnies retail operations manager Colin Bird, the NT has the lowest ratio of volunteers in Australia.

On some days, the sorting warehouse in Darwin, which needs about 10 volunteers, runs on two.

"Every time we can't open a store, people lose out," he said.

"In Darwin we have 160 people lobbing for breakfast each morning and that is funded from sales at the stores - they are there purely to generate income to benefit people in the community."

He said in the current climate, Vinnies "couldn't function without Sonya travelling to where she is needed."

The 28-year-old, originally from South Australia, moved to the NT in 2011.

Previously working in retail, she felt compelled to step up and do more in the community.

"I felt like I wasn't doing my bit," Ms Lovegrove said.

"There is so much disadvantage, especially in the NT, so many people who don't have the basics."

Now, she sees every day as an opportunity to help.

"You get people coming in with only the clothes on their back, and being able to help that person is immeasurable."

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