RE-INVENTING THE CHARITY SHOP

Anne Yendell manager of Sam’s Place talks about the shop’s plans for Christmas

Buying secondhand or pre-loved goods for yourself, or as Christmas presents, may be something you have never considered before, but at Sam’s Place we are trying to re-invent the concept of charity shops. And it couldn’t come at a better time, as so many of us are reconsidering our shopping habits. Not only do we need to use less of the world’s resources in manufacturing and buying endless clothes and other products that inevitably end up in land fill, but many of us are experiencing a significant squeeze due to the cost of living. With this in mind we have put aside some lovely seasonal clothes for you to come and see, and possibly try on… For example, you might be looking for a glitzy number for a Christmas party, a special outfit for Christmas day, or how about a beautiful warm coat, with matching scarf and gloves? We have them all, and at a fraction of their original cost. Although the men’s clothes are tucked around the corner of the shop, we have some good quality jackets, shoes and knitwear for you to discover. We have also identified some super stocking fillers, and even if there is someone in your life who appears to have everything, we may have the perfect gift. Plus we have Christmas cards and decorations aplenty. We also thought we’d try a couple of promotions… guess the theme of our shop window display in a prize draw, and win a bottle of Proseco. If you have been admiring the amazing green jacket and waistcoat in our window, it’s not to be sold until after Christmas, but if you’d like to make a bid for it, the highest bidder will be able to purchase it in the new year. We also have a lot of china and bric-a-brac that we can’t sell or recycle — if any group or individual is interested, please get in touch.

Of course, another important reason to shop with us is to continue to support the Portsmouth branch of the Samaritans in its vital work and thanks to all our volunteers, customers, and donors we are doing really well. Looking ahead to 2023 we are always interested in recruiting more volunteers, and if after all the festivities you decide upon a spring clean, don’t forget we’d be delighted to receive your donations. We are open until 1pm on Saturday 24th December, re-opening on Tuesday 3rd January 2023. Sam’s Place 6 Grove Road South, Southsea PO5 3QT 023 9282 1199 www.samsplace.org.uk Samaritans national helpline 116 123