Marek Bartosiewicz, a volunteer working in the southwestern town of Stronie Śląskie, sparked intense debate on social media after using his Instagram account to post videos of some of the more curious items. Among these was a First Holy Communion smock.

“Ladies and gentlemen let's not joke around, please,” Bartosiewicz says in one video. “First Communion is in May – these people probably won't need this.”

In another video, Bartosiewicz looks incredulous as he displays a heavily rusted shovel and a broken pitchfork.

Replying to Bartosiewicz, other volunteers said they had seen a Harry Potter outfit donated, along with stained tablecloths and curtains damaged by cigarette butts.

Others, though, said that when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, donations from Poland included items such as wedding dresses and underwater flippers.

“Some people use events like this just to clear out their garage,” wrote one user on Instagram.

However, others have panned Bartosiewicz for being “too picky.”

“Every gesture counts,” wrote one critic. Another railed: “What do you want, an electric shovel?”