Whoever thought that shopping in a thrift store would contribute to charity to various causes ?Whoever came up with this brilliant idea was a true genius because its true and it works.
The United Kingdom high street and most commercial areas are dotted with several 'charity shops' where the public donate unwanted items from their home .After spring cleaning,the store staff check each item for defects,dispose off goods that are in bad condition, (often smaller charity organisations come to collect this to send away to far off poorer countries after weeding of unwanted junk) and steam-iron clothes, polish shoes and clean utensils,cutlery etc and price each item that is displayed on sale neatly in store shelves so that the public can buy it at a low price , all sale proceeds towards the specific charity that the store donates to.
The store staff are often volunteers who work part time to gain retail business work experience, or retired or stay at home moms who can choose their work shifts and days that suit their busy schedules.And most stores sell old as well as new stuff like greeting cards,junk jewellery,fairtrade dry food items etc, so its not all old things on sale at these charity shops.That's what makes it a pleasure to browse in these stores because you can find the most unbelievable bargains for clothes,jackets,handbags,kitchen items,books and the works.
I've been shopping at ' charity shops ' for over five years now and I still cannot get enough of them.You can buy the best crystalware,colourful plates,pricey cake stands,vases,jugs, home furniture,designer wear,nearly everything you can use in your home,if you don't mind owning a used item in perfectly good condition.It was unbelievable at first that such new shiny,perfectly packed,in carton things are actually donated by people around who never used it and have nobody else among their friends or family who can take it off them,or gifts that they would'nt recycle for others , or disposing off things when they moved house,or children giving away things they inherited from their parents' home that are not to their liking .It is indeed very altrusitic on the part of these people who give it away for a good cause instead of selling it off on ebay or recycling it as presents for others .And despite the numerous charity shops competing with each other,almost all seem to be in a profitable business.
One of my friends volunteers once a week in a charity shop and tells me the funniest stories because she helps to sort out donated goods-apparently they get strange items like roadsigns,hospital bedsheets,restaurant cutlery,handbags with pure gold jewellery,whole full suitcases with pure cashmere and silk clothes,unbelievably extra large sized clothing and other interesting stuff . Apparently there are volunteers who will also visit the homes of older people who cannot personally drop off heavy bags at the shop .
Most of the common charities are UK Cancer research and British Heart Foundation,there are also Hospices,and in Chichester I've come across a whole mini 'charity shop lane' full of various shops that have their own unique specific charities like 'Age UK' , 'Cat care', 'Spina Bifida research','children's charity' etc .Over the years I've picked up kitchen ceramic serveware,crystal,ceramic pots,vintage handbags,new slippers ,mantle decorations,figurines ,cashmere sweaters etc for peanuts and I also know friends who have picked up prized items like Jimmy Choos for a tenner ! Some people hunt exclusively for designer stuff and buy it at dirt cheap rates and then sell it on ebay for a profit. I love browsing around the stores while strolling about the markets.Its like a posh version of a flea market .
I am not sure if its my bohemian mentality or my typical feminine bargain-hunting trait,but there is something charming about picking up something that had in fact originally been carefully chosen for a high price by the discerning buyer with a good taste . It seems to have more character, an untold mysterious story behind it, and hopefully, a little historical value too . Recently, while moving house , I donated bags and bags of unwanted stuff to charity .And bought gorgeous Le Creuset bakeware at the 'For Cats' charity shop for just two pounds , the cycle continues .
