Forty years of thrift

Awali's thriving thrift shop - which raises thousands of dinars from local charities - unveiled its sparkling new interior to customers this week as part of its 40th birthday celebrations.

The house of good causes - number 509B, tucked in the middle of the sprawling Bapco compound, has been renovated and has received a fresh coat of paint.

It is home to the thrift shop that has been operating in Awali's community for decades selling a range of items from books to bags, shoes, clothes, household goods and children's games.

"Last year we donated approximately BD2,500 to local charities from our thrift shop earnings alone," said Musarat Hashmi, one of the volunteers amongst the 13 member ladies group at the thrift shop.

She has been living at Bapco compound for 25 years. The shop espouses charities like Helping Hands, Bahrain Mobility, BSPCA, RIA, Hope Institute, Bahrain Cancer Society to name a few.

The thrift shop conceived four decades ago was the brainchild of a group of expatriate women living on the compound and was actively supported by the then chief executive's wife, Roma Hepburn.

The aim was to gather donations of goods and sell them on at reduced prices to low income families, labourers and domestic help, consequently generating money to help charitable organisations in the kingdom.

In the mid 1980s the shop and an adjoining coffee shop was 'the place' to hang out among the Bapco wives but, as times moved on along with many families, the shop was transferred to one room. The thrift shop, however, resurfaced 10 years ago with an injection of the fresh enthusiasm of a group of devoted ladies.

Bapco donated the house and maintains the premises free of cost. "The fact that we have no administrative costs and from sorting out the donations to washing and ironing the donated clothes we do everything on a voluntary basis. But, the most important thing that keeps us going is that it is a team effort," said Rosemary Brown, who has been volunteering her services at the shop since 2002.

"The driving force that keeps us working is that it is a wonderful community service and it is just a matter of four hours per week on each member's part to keep the shop operational. But we are always looking for donations which actually gets us customers," said Pam.

Everything at the shop is priced between 100 fils to BD2.

"A lot of customers buy and send items back home as gifts," added Mrs Hashmi.

Awali's thrift shop does brisk business and is open twice a week on Sunday and Tuesday from 8.30am till 10.30 am.