The toys, clothes and bric-a-brac sold at the Portsoy Thrift Shop often retail for the bargain prices of 50p or £1.
But over the past 20 years, the dedicated volunteers and supporters who have made it such a success have helped to raise a staggering £250,000 and counting for local causes.
The team are usually kept busy sorting the many items are that are donated to the secondhand shop in in the village’s square.
Yesterday, however, they surrounded themselves with tea, scones and cakes at the Seafield Arms Hotel in Cullen to celebrate two decades of fundraising and a whole lot of money.
Founder June Goodyear was delighted to be joined by the 16 ladies who give up their time to run the venture.
She said: “We used to run a week-long thrift shop in Portsoy just once a year to raise money but when a shop closed in the square 20 years ago we knew we couldn’t leave it empty and so signed the lease.
“There were 16 of us then and there’s 16 of us now, although we have lost a few members over the years.”
One of those members was Agnes Mair who died two years ago but had written a poem about the “group of recycled teenagers” who had become a close-knit pose of friends.
Mrs Goodyear said: “As well as getting to spend time with our friends, we’ve raised a lot of money for groups around Portsoy.”
Donations over the years included £6,000 to the Archie Foundation, money for fireworks and Christmas lights for the Portsoy 75 club and £6,000 towards the Portsoy gym.
“We sell things for 50p or a £1 – they’re lovely but good quality,” Mrs Goodyear said.
“You name it, we’ve donated to it, from lots of small groups, to the Scouts and the Brownies, but we only give to people who have made an effort trying to raise money themselves too.
“To date we’ve donated over £250,000, which is terrific. We never thought when we started that we would be here in 10 years, never mind 20.”
Women in the group surprised Mrs Goodyear with pictures of the team over the years, including an image from the Press and Journal of one of their first £1,000 donations to the Portsoy gym.
She said: “People couldn’t believe how much we managed to raise.
“But as well as helping others and giving back, we’ve a great group. We all got little silver pendants to mark the occasion.”
The Portsoy Thrift Shop is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 10am-noon and 2-4pm in Portsoy Square.
