Charity flea market draws crowds (2)

"The success of the first event surprised me and inspired me to continue this meaningful action," says Zhang Lanlan, the 32-year-old founder of the Charity Flea Market.

She came up with the idea in 2008, while she was working in a Japanese company and volunteering to teach English at a primary school for migrant children in Minhang District.

Japanese have a culture of flea markets and buying and selling second-hand items for recycling and charity. Zhang's Japanese friends inspired her to start her own flea market.

The first Charity Flea Market in November 2008 was relatively small, with only 30 stalls and 500 visitors at a restaurant on Nanjing Road E. It drew Zhang's friends, Japanese colleagues and expats who learned about it from the Internet.

The next year the market moved to 1933 Old Millfun on Shajing Road in the North Bund area.

Through those social network websites like Douban, the flea market became popular, especially among young women who like fashionable and interesting items.

Zhang has quit her job and now devotes all her time and energy to the charity flea market in which she has five regular partners. Many college students who visited the market have become volunteers.

Tan Yue is a university senior majoring in finance and working as an intern at an insurance company. She used to volunteer and help out the organizers. Now she minds stalls.

"Taking part in these activities is a good opportunity for students to get to know the larger society and help us prepare for life after graduation," says Tan. Making friends is a plus.

The market charges each vendor 160 yuan for two days. Tickets cost 1 yuan.

All profit is donated to the primary school for migrant children in Minhang District to build a library and sometimes buy eggs for them. The market also donates winter shoes and clothes and buys eggs for the pupils in Shanghai and other towns.

The market cooperates with other charity organizations too.

"It's very meaningful that our charity flea market can attract other charity organizations to join in. Collaborating, sharing some resources and information gives us more energy to help people in need," Zhang says.

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