Customers of the first shop in the world where items were bought with kindness instead of cash have pledged 195 hours of their time to volunteer at local charities.
People were asked to volunteer their time to good causes in exchange for goods at the outlet in Dumfries.
Thanks to the success of the one-day pop-up shop at the Loreburne Centre, the Massive Outpouring of Love (MOOL) project will be receiving 45 hours of help with sorting and packing items for refugees.
Mossburn Community Farm will benefit from 73 hours of support for their animal shelter and the Queen of the South Trust has had 17 hours of pledges to help at their foodbank and with grounds maintenance.
Twenty hours have been pledged to Dumfries Food Train; 13 hours to Kate’s Kitchen; six to The Bridge; seven to Dumfries Community Shop and 14 hours to Sustain Scotland.
Julie Smith, trustee with the MOOL project which helps refugees, was delighted to find new volunteers through The Kinder Shop.
She said: “The time people are volunteering will be a huge help to us and I couldn’t resist making a ‘purchase’ whilst I was there. I got this lovely oak chair for which I will be volunteering some time to help with the Food Train to help people with their shopping.”
The shop was also visited by Provost Tracey, Little who praised the idea.
She said: “I think it’s such a wonderful way to highlight local charities and encourage more people to get involved with volunteering.”
The purpose of The Kinder Shop was to show what a difference kindness can make in communities.
The Cumberland Building Society is funding the project as part of its campaign to promote kindness.
