In the small West Country town of Minehead in West Somerset UK , yesterday, I observed a simple act of philanthropy which was startling in its power to do good.
The lady who owns and manages the bookshop ‘The Last Few’ in Minehead simply asked a customer whether she could put the customer’s penny change from the book she had just bought into the children’s hospice collection box.
“Would you like me to put your penny change in the children’s hospice box?” she simply said, with a big smile.
“Yes, of course,” said the customer.
“Thank-you,” the owner of the book shop said then leaned over and popped the penny change in the children’s hospice box.
It was as simple as that.
I looked at the prices in her shop and saw that they all ended in 99p so, quite simply, every sale she made presented the opportunity for the customer to donate one penny into the children’s hospice box.
I was so impressed that I stopped and asked the owner of ‘The Last Few’ bookshop whether customers had ever refused.
She laughed and said it was very rare for a customer to refuse but it did happen sometimes. However, all her staff were instructed to ask the customers if they would like to donate their penny change from each book sale so the money did mount up. It was worth the occasional embarrassment to help the children’s hospice.
Over the years, these simple and frequent penny donations had amounted to significant amounts of money and she had the certificates from the children’s hospice organisation showing the amounts proudly displayed on the wall behind her.
I got to thinking about how much money would be collected if every shop in the country did the same.
Now, when I go into a shop, if my purchase ends in 99p, I always ask for the one penny to be put into the charity box.
Over the years, I’m sure it will all add up. The world will be a better place and I will feel better about myself, too.
As somebody said somewhere, the act of giving is its’ own reward.
You could do the same too!
Bye for now
Rob
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