The bell above the shop door jingles as I walk in. Actually, we do not have a bell, however, Lauren has promised to buy one on her next trip to India. The shelves are already bursting with colour—jeans, dresses, and a few sequined numbers that make us all smile. We like them to be colour co-ordinated, it is more eye-catching to the customers. Today I’m on the morning shift, so the first job is to check that every item is displayed well, and I have hung some items outside on the terrace. I see there are some bags of donations waiting to be sorted that came in yesterday. There’s a big bag waiting, and inside are treasures: most are neatly folded but could do with an iron. Oh wow! a soft child's hoodie, and a summer dress that looks like it’s only been worn once. You never know what treasures are in these bags.A couple more volunteers come in and we share stories about our week end. We gather around the sorting table and start to go through the bags. We are lucky today, everything seems ready to hang up. Some days we have a big pile for washing and mending. I will often take something home to wash and freshen it up. It's kind of satisfying bringing a garment back to life and delaying it/s journey to landfill. At Daadi we throw nothing away so the challenge is how to keep it going. Somethings only need an easy repair.People …
The bell above the shop door jingles as I walk in. Actually, we do not have a bell, however, Lauren has promised to buy one on her next trip to India.
The shelves are already bursting with colour—jeans, dresses, and a few sequined numbers that make us all smile. We like them to be colour co-ordinated, it is more eye-catching to the customers. Today I’m on the morning shift, so the first job is to check that every item is displayed well, and I have hung some items outside on the terrace. I see there are some bags of donations waiting to be sorted that came in yesterday. There’s a big bag waiting, and inside are treasures: most are neatly folded but could do with an iron. Oh wow! a soft child’s hoodie, and a summer dress that looks like it’s only been worn once. You never know what treasures are in these bags.
A couple more volunteers come in and we share stories about our week end. We gather around the sorting table and start to go through the bags. We are lucky today, everything seems ready to hang up. Some days we have a big pile for washing and mending. I will often take something home to wash and freshen it up. It’s kind of satisfying bringing a garment back to life and delaying it/s journey to landfill. At Daadi we throw nothing away so the challenge is how to keep it going. Somethings only need an easy repair.
People wander in and I ask them if they have been in before. Every day we get new customers, Some tell us they follow us on social media, others will say they have heard about us from a friend. Telling them about Daadi is always fun, especially when they realise how many clothes they can get in a bag and you see their faces light up. Once they start looking around the rails it is nice to see them having fun.
I like to welcome the regulars too, and I am beginning to learn their names. We are encouraged to spend time chatting with customers and finding out what they like to wear. By mid-morning the shop is buzzing. A mother comes in with her daughter, both filling bags and swapping out items they no longer wear. A couple of teenagers dig through the rails, thrilled at how far their €12 can stretch. Someone stops to ask about the CO₂ savings chart on the wall, and I explain how every garment rescued helps the planet breathe a little easier. Their eyes widen—they didn’t expect a simple shop visit to make such a difference.
We are running out of tote bags. Every customer gets a free one that is made in our workroom. I have never learned how to sew but now i am helping to cut bags. It is not that hard so I am going to learn how to use the sewing machine. One of the other volunteers is going to show me when we get a free moment. I don’t like ironing but we hate creased clothes on our rails too. All the volunteers pitch in and do a bit. We help each other.
When the shop is not busy with customers, we keep the shop tidy and check everything is clean. Time for a coffee and a catch up. It has been a busy morning.
Daadi shops run events, so it is our job to keep customers informed about what we do and new fund-raising projects we are working on. This month, we have been told we are using our profits to pay for speech therapy for autistic children in the Costa Blanca. We are always on the look out for interesting projects to help children far and wide as well as locally.
Before I leave, I pin a floral skirt on the mannequin by the door. It catches the sunlight, almost glowing. A small thing, but I know someone will fall in love with it later today.
Being a Daadi volunteer isn’t just giving time—it’s being part of a family. It’s knowing that every bag filled, every conversation shared, every scrap of fabric rescued adds up to something bigger: a cleaner planet, a supported school in India, Pillows made for homeless people, free clothes for local kids, fun clothes swaps and craft fairs and working with a community that cares.
We have only been open a year, but I already see what a difference volunteering can make. I feel good in myself, knowing I can be a part of it
I lock the door behind me, tired but happy. Tomorrow another volunteer will take over, and the ripple will keep going. That’s the magic of Daadi.
