I READ in disbelief the letter from the misguided and anonymous "Sweet Charity" (Your Letters, March 19) who criticised Bury's charity shops saying they were "too expensive".

It is the duty of every charity shop to raise as much money for their cause from each sale as they can. It is not their duty to provide cheap clothes for the public; that is a by-product that many of us are grateful for.

"They have few overheads", says the critic. Do they? Take my word for it, charity shops pay High Street rents, business rates (admittedly at a reduced rate); they have to fit out the shop; they need lighting, heating and water. These are just some of the "few" overheads.

Most charities employ some volunteers, described by "Sweet Charity" as "free labour". Not so!

Volunteers - of which I am one - need tea and coffee, perhaps travel expenses, maybe parking facilities. All staff, paid or not, must be covered by public liability insurance which costs money. "Sweet Charity" complains that she is expected to pay £5 or more for a dress and £2 for a book. Well wake up, look in the fashion shops and see similar dresses on sale for much more. As for books, a romantic novel costs just 25p where I work, and large leather-bound reference books do sell for several pounds. This is often a very good way to obtain a book that may be out of print and otherwise unobtainable.

"Sweet Charity" says all the goods are donated. This is a popular myth. Yes, most do sell some donated goods, but that doesn't mean they are completely "free". Stock has to be collected - sometimes by a paid contractor - it then has to be sorted, cleaned, steamed, put on hangars, priced and stored. Charity shops now respond to the seasonal requirements of shoppers, and out-of-season stock needs to be stored in dry, heated conditions. A significant part of the price on the ticket has to cover all these hidden costs. The profit from sales goes to charity, so when "Sweet Charity" maybe falls in need - providing we all get involved - there will be some help available.

And if "Sweet Charity" does not believe me, he/she should write to the charity and ask for a copy of their annual accounts. Alternatively, I would be happy to take him/her into the charity shop where I help out and show them "behind the scenes".

Finally, I say to "Sweet Charity", turning your back on charity is inviting charity to turn its back on you.

R.T.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.