Season of goodwill: check out your charity shop for a Christmas bargain

I like to pretend I’m a charity-shop junkie just because I’m saving an item from landfill while donating to charity – but it’s also exhilarating to find something well-made and unusual after a good old rummage.

My mission was to hit the charity shops on South Great George's Street in Dublin city centre to see what Christmas gifts and clothes I could pick up in my lunch break. These were the results:

Charity gifts

Barnardos' Gifts for Good offer practical support to families at Christmas and beyond. You can buy a range of gifts, including pyjamas, bed socks and slippers, for €18, a food voucher to feed a family for €18, a filled soap bag for a family for €28, books for €35 and a duvet, pillow and covers for €50. shop.barnardos.ieThe Adopt a Donkey scheme run by the donkey sanctuary in Liscarroll, Co Cork, might offer the perfect gift for a special animal lover in your life this Christmas. The recipient gets a certificate of adoption, a pencil drawing and a bio of their chosen donkey in the post (for €25) – and they can also visit their new friend throughout the year. thedonkeysanctuary.ie

Concern works in 26 of the world's poorest countries. For as little as €10 you can buy a piglet for a family in need; for €20 you can pay for a whole year of school tuition fees for five children; and for €1,200 you can provide a whole community with clean drinking water. gifts.concern.net

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The Simon Community is appealing to businesses not to send corporate Christmas cards and gifts this year and instead to donate the money to the national Simon House of Cards Appeal. The charity will use the money to provide food, shelter and permanent supported housing to those who need it most. dubsimon.ie