Stepping into the small shop, you would not notice anything different until you take a look at the price tags. They are much lower than the usual market prices.

From electric fans to radios, from hats to shoes, everything here is on offer at a discounted price.

This is a charity supermarket in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, which is intended to help those in need with money made from selling donated goods.

Most of the goods donated are overstocked items from enterprises and public institutions, for example, obsolete stationery from institutional units, the shop manager Zhang Shujie told China Daily.

"We have fully utilized goods and materials that were sitting idle," he said.

The prices of the goods, which are set by the price authorities, are only 1 to 5 percent that of the market price.

"All the income will be used for the charity," he said, explaining that 30 percent goes towards the store's operational costs, 40 percent towards buying flour, oil and grain for the socially disadvantaged whilst the remaining 30 percent is for the setting up of programs to help the underprivileged.

The organization has issued 250 coupons for grain and edible oil to those badly in need, with the help of neighborhood committees.

The coupon holders can buy grain and oil at up to 60 percent of the market price.

The shop has collected 1.5 million yuan (US$184,960) worth of materials and goods since its establishment by the local civil affairs department in March 18.

Zhang said that one day, a 70-year-old man, Liu Hongchen, came to the shop and asked for a wheelchair for his mother who was over 90.

The shop put up a notice asking for a wheelchair.

The next day, one woman surnamed Ji telephoned the shop and asked them to collect a wheelchair from her home.

Ji told them that she is disabled, but was getting better following treatment. So she decided to donate it to help others.

Liu was deeply moved and said he would donate it again when his mother did not need it.

There are also some handmade items, made by disabled students, on sale at the store.

Zhang said buyers tend to be senior citizens or migrant workers.

"Even though most of our products are discontinued lines, they are still functional and very cheap," he said. "In shopping here, one not only makes a purchase but also helps others in the process."

(China Daily August 1, 2005)