Thrift shop boss launches store for childrenswear
Charity venture supports local foodbank, plus children’s home in Tanzania
COMMUNITY thrift shop Reuse Littleborough has now opened a second shop dedicated to supplies for mothers, babies, and children.
The new shop, Second Time Around, is based in Hare Hill.
This is on top of owner, Michael Bamford’s current shop, which operates from the former Royal Oak Pub.
Reuse was set up by Michael initially to support the ‘Forever Angels’ children’s home in Tanzania, founded by Amy Hathaway.
The mother, who has six adopted children from Tanzania, set up the home after discovering on a gap year that orphaned babies in the country can be left to die.
Michael, 68, met Amy and became involved in sending essentials and provided enough cash for them to purchase formula milk for a month to feed their 60 babies.
He has since visited the children’s home three times.
Reuse provides items like furniture and clothes at discount prices and also supports local charities such as Rochdale Foodbank and The Red Box Project.
The shop does not accept food donations.
Second Time Around opened on Wednesday, December 2.
Michael said: “The new shop is an extension of what we’re doing.
“We get so many donations which people have always brought in because we fill containers and send them over to Tanzania.
“That’s why we started in the first place.
“We were looking for another outlet to fund it.
“The shop is doing very well - it’s given us another income and people are loving it. They like the idea of a shop just for babies and children.
“Even in the main shop we can only use a small area for children’s things.
“Mothers are getting a bargain and a lot of charity shops just don’t have enough space for children’s and babies’ things.”