Run by the Bon Coeur Association, which is made up mostly of British volunteers, its president, Charles Miskin, said they split money raised about 50/50 between human and animal good causes, mostly local.
“Among about 30 others, we have given to Cancer Support France, a refuge for battered women near Agen, a donkey refuge, an association training guide dogs for the blind and we have recently given €500 to our mairie towards a water fountain.”
Open five days a week in a village with just 580 inhabitants, it is welcomed as part of a small group of shops which help to keep the community alive. The shop owners offer it rent free as they are happy to have it used year-round for charity.
Manned by volunteers, it sells books, 90% of which are in English, clothes, jewellery and household items.
Mr Miskin said: “We try to keep open all year round and there is a constant flow of customers. The donations we receive help us keep a good turnover of goods, and we try to pass on excess to other good causes.”
Bon Coeur (boncoeur47.fr) also organises three big events a year: a 10,000+ book sale on May 1, a Franco-British Pétanque match on July 14 and they run a bar and sell picnics for an annual Shakespeare play by a touring London theatre company.
Volunteers also help at other events and Mr Miskin said he was keen to help groups across France as the idea works anywhere.
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
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