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Charity shops
Feeling brave enough to run 26 miles in a rubber chicken suit? Me neither. There
are other ways to help raise funds for a charity. If you have a spare morning, afternoon,
or a few days each week why not volunteer to work in a charity shop. But why do
unpaid work I hear you ask. Well, there are many varied reasons for doing voluntary
work.
Formed in 1927, Cats Protection has grown to become the UK's leading cat welfare charity. My regional Cats Protection shop is a great place! Not only does it earn revenue, which goes towards helping rescued cats; it allows folk to do good by donating stuff. There can be some fabulous bargains to be found. The range of stuff on sale is often quite amazing. Nick-nacks and bric-a-brac, books videos, children’s clothing, toys, ladies accessories, jewellery, toiletries and more!
- it's a positive way to use your free time
- you'll gain confidence and develop new skills
- for moral reasons
- a way to give something back to society
- you can make new friends
- doing your bit for the planet by helping recycling
Click here to view a photo of some of the bric-a-brac: [55.9 KB opens in a new window]
[Cats Protection shop]
I volunteer some hours each week to my local shop. I do it in memory of my cats Biccie and Poppy .
I know my donated time will help give cats like George, Mischa, Abbie, Nula, Harry, Reggie, Sparkie, Panther, Sam, Oscar, Corky, William, Purdy, Rio, Fudge and Alfie a new start, or better life.
Some folk are apprehensive about volunteering their time to work in a shop because they don't want to operate the till or deal with customers and they think that's all there is to it. Fear not, there are other tasks to be done that may be more to your liking. No one will make you do anything that you don't feel comfortable with.
When I started my experience of working in a charity shop I had no idea of what to expect. Fran Holder, who is the manageress of the Worcester branch of the Cats Protection shop, showed me the process. Some volunteers do a bit of everything:
[Fran]
- Helping to sort through donations of clothing
- Preparing them for the shop floor by steaming and sizing
- Pricing items reasonably by considering the condition and brand
- Recycle any items that are unsuitable for sale
Knitwear should not have too much bobbling, and all hems seams and zips need to
be in good condition. There is no facility for washing donated clothing, but all
items are steamed to de-crease the garments before they are put on display.
[Dee]
Once the clothes are steamed they need price tags. This is done by means of a little
gun-type device, which I quite like to use. The managers then usually price items.
A rag merchant collects anything that is rejected, and the charity receives a payment
per bag.
Please make sure clothing is clean and of decent quality. A general rule of thumb
is, only donate it if you would buy it.
In terms of bric-a-brac, toys have to check to ensure they are not broken and soft
toys have to be given the once-over to ensure eyes and noses are firmly fixed. Crockery
such as cups and vases are checked for cracks or chips and then either wiped or
washed.
Charity shops like the Cats Protection shop rely solely on the kindness of its volunteer
staff and the generosity of donations from the local public.
As for myself, I don't regret volunteering my time; I've enjoyed learning to use
the till, indeed it’s become one of my favourite things to do. I have discovered
using the steamer isn't really my thing, but others seem to enjoy it.
Charity shops sell mostly second-hand goods; a large proportion of which is clothing.
Had they not been donated to a charity shop, these items would probably have ended
up going to a landfill site. By supporting Cats Protection shop you can be sure
that you are doing your bit for the environment.
Whether you want to volunteer your time - donate goods - browse for bargains; step
inside - you can be sure of a friendly welcome.
See also: worcester-cats-protection.blogspot.com/
New
To discover more about Cats Protection, the cats they help, upcoming events and
other services visit: www.worcestercats.org.uk/
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