Caritas Manila's charity store

MANILA, Philippines - Caritas Manila recently inaugurated its main Segunda Mana Charity Store at its main headquarters in Pandacan, Manila.

Although launched to the public two years ago, Segunda Mana, the donations-in-kind drive of Caritas Manila, has opened its first formal department store type outlet in a bid to fund its various social service programs.

The Segunda Mana Charity Store will be open to the public Mondays to Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There are two main sections to a Segunda Mana Charity Store, the brand new section and the used/second-hand section.

Segunda Mana offers various items from clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, office equipment to books for sale. Before the Segunda Mana Charity Store, Caritas would hold informal bazaars during special seasons.

Now, the public can easily go to the main outlet if they want to buy something from Segunda Mana and help.

“That is just the first. Based on what we will learn from here, we will open up other Segunda Mana Charity Stores in Mega Manila in a same department store type set-up. Following very good public response from individuals, families to organizations and companies that are now supporting Segunda Mana, we have decided to put-up the Segunda Mana Charity Store.

“We actually converted Caritas Manila’s old auditorium to be the first Segunda Mana Charity Store. Sales generated from Segunda Mana for the last two years have been instrumental in funding various social service programs of Caritas Manila. Segunda Mana contributed to the Ondoy and Pepeng relief and rehabilitation efforts and recently to sending financial aid to Haiti. It provides additional funds for our scholarship and youth leadership programs as well as our health programs for the poor,” says Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual, Caritas Manila executive director.

The blessing and launching of the Segunda Mana Charity Store was led by Archbishop of Manila and chairman of Caritas Manila, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

(For details, call 564-0305.).