Ah, charity shops…

Along with the many freedoms we formerly enjoyed, the British have given us charity shops.

Charity, it turns out is a Biblical concept and a very important one.  The Apostle Paul in his instructions to the Corinthian Church spends the whole of Chapter 13 in his first epistle explaining charity and its importance. That concept echoes down through the ages to today’s charity shops. Verse 13 tells us, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”  That’s from the King James which I prefer, but most newer translations read, “faith hope and love, defining charity as love and isn’t that what it really is?

According to the the Oxford on-line dictionary, ‘charity shop’ is a British noun.

1. a shop where second-hand goods are sold to raise money for a charity.

Charity shops are in fact  a uniquely British thing, and since I’m primarily in Scotland when I’m in Britain, might I go so far as to say they are a Scottish thing.

Dr. George Gosling, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Wolverhampton and Dr. Georgina Brewis, Associate Professor in the History of Education at University College London have done extensive researchon charity shops and have discovered they began as an innovative way to fund a charity with a specific need.

The Google tells us, “Indeed, the earliest known fundraising shop sold flowers in Mayfair from 1870 to support a mission in East London.”  “Charity shop” is further defined as, “an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.”

The charity shop is a really good thing. Personally, I think most people have a streak of charity in them, but not all know how best to use it. Shopping in a charity shop could maybe be thought of as “entry level” in the charity business.

My Scottish wife is a charity shopper. I think she feels about charity shops much the same way I feel about fishing.

I have been known to walk up to a mountain lake or stream, see all the swirls and pools and just imagine the possibilities. I never know exactly what the possibilities are, but they are there just the same…possibilities.

Joyce sees possibilities in charity shops. She rarely has a particular item in mind when she steps into a shop, she just sees possibilities.

Recently Joyce, with charity shop trainee, Granddaughter Ellie, in tow with just a few hours in Broughty Ferry charity shops netted (note the fishing analogy) a sweater for a son-in-law, a scarf and book for Ellie herself, a nice wee mug for little sister Elspeth and a set of dip serving bowls on a nice wee serving board for her Mom.

I who provided transportation, the parking fees and even paid for the ice cream, got nothing!  I did, however, receive great deal of pleasure from seeing how much enjoyment those two were having with their charity shopping.

When Joyce goes charity shopping, she always has others in mind, and is that not a first step in the concept of charity? I myself have benefitted from her efforts. I have several nice sweaters and what I call my “pheasant” coat, a dark green, up-scale waxed fabric coat that has a couple of pockets I’m certain would hold a pheasant!  It’s a very warm, very British looking coat.

I myself have been known to frequent charity shops. I head straight for the bookshelves.  Some of my favorite books are charity shop “catches.” (Fishing again)

Some years ago in the wee bookshop inside Castle Furniture in Cupar, I “landed” Sea Room by Adam Nicolson for 50p. It’s a great account of his growing up with the Shiant Isles in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides as a personal area of exploration. He shares what he learned about nature, history, the people, and himself. 

I also have Poacher’s Pilgrimage: An Island Journey by Alistair McIntosh which I “netted” in the OXFAM Charity Shop in St. Andrews. When I went to the counter to check out, the lady who took my money told me she had actually met Alastair! How cool is that? It was almost like now I also knew Alister, and I could read the book with a more personal attachment.

Alistair’s fascinating story helped me understand more of the Hebrides, its people and the Gaelic language.

And there is Love of Country by Madeline Bunting who shares her love of Scotland.  It also came from the OXFAM Shop in St. Andrews.  There are others.

I can’t end without a mention of a new charity shop I’ve not actually been able to visit. I do however have a personal invitation to stop by from its organizer.

Jackie Campbell whom I first met several years ago when she was a personal banker with Clydesdale Bank in Dundee, works with a charity and has taken “charity shop” to a whole new level.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/perth-kinross/2421394/new-chas-library-opens-at-errol-market-with-huge-local-support/

The charity, CHAS: (Children’s Hospitals Across Scotland) have opened a Charity Library in Errol. The shop handles not only second-hand books but also a nice selection of toys.

Jackie says. “When I first visited Rachel House, (one of the two hospices they (CHAS) have), in the summer of 2016. I was a little concerned ahead of the visit that I find it traumatic and upsetting, but on the contrary, I left there feeling enthused and determined to raise funds for them.”

She adds, “Most of our volunteer team have had the opportunity to visit Rachel House, and they all agree it gave them clarity and the impetus to raise ongoing funds.” 

Jackie continues: “At the minute, CHAS feel they are only reaching 1 in 3 of the families in Scotland who need them.” There is much work to be done.

So, there you go. Can you see that the good feeling of having needs met by a charity is returned to those doing the giving and they find themselves encouraged?

I think that might have been something the Apostle Paul had in mind.

High on my “to do” list for our next journey to the Old Country is a stop at the CHAS Library in Errol.  Who knows what interesting books I might “net” there.  Just think of the possibilities.