There’s more to working in a charity shop than selling clothes

By Kath Morgan

Reader news

22 January 2008 12:30

Retirement was something I looked forward to after a busy life in school, but I was soon tired of late breakfasts and lazy days, and was ready for something new.

My husband, David, saw an appeal for a children's charity shop helper and I decided to apply - I think my constant hoovering was driving him mad! 

I was accepted, and warmly welcomed by Joy and Nancy, the other two ‘Thursday girls’. I happily sorted clothes and priced them - and then I was introduced to the till. It looked terrifying, but after typing in £100 instead of £10, I soon got the hang of it and eventually could even change the till roll.

My first customer was a young boy who was going for a job interview and needed a suit. Luckily, we found one that fitted perfectly with a matching shirt, so we gave him a free tie. I was delighted when he came back to tell us that he’d got the job. We reckoned it was our suit that had done the trick!

One of our wealthier customers bought something every week before going for coffee with friends. However, she’d never be seen carrying one of our bags, so we had to keep well-known dress shop bags for her to use.

We often supplied clothes and props for school plays and many Wise Men and shepherds were resplendent in our brocade curtains and towels each Christmas.

One regular customer was a 50-year-old man, Joe, who could neither read nor write. I wrote letters and cards for him - especially to current girlfriends - and Joy helped him to fill out forms.