Authorities commit to expanding charity shop network

A cooperation between the civil affairs authority and the postal service will increase the number of charity shops to cover more people in need, especially in rural areas, according to an agreement the authorities signed on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the China Post Group announced they would launch a joint campaign to promote charity shops in China on Tuesday, with those post shops that are willing and appropriate conditions will also offer charity shops by the end of 2015.

Charity shops receive donations from society and allocations from governments to give to families in need, and also sell some goods at reduced rates.

Local governments will support the transition with special allocation and favorable policies, the agreement said.

After a pilot program, more post shops will include charity shops in an expansion nationwide during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

Charity shops, initiated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, were built to help people in need, have greatly expanded in the past 10 years. However, such shops are limited, with only around 9,000 in the country and most concentrated in cities.

Taking advantage of widely scattered post shops, of which there are around 222,000 under the China Post Group, charity shops can serve more families, especially in rural areas, the announcement from the ministry said.