Volunteering with Thrift for Good
About Thrift for Good
Thrift for Good is a charity thrift store in Dubai selling preloved clothing and books, with a big heart behind the rails. It was founded in 2020 by Dubai resident Jennifer Sault, and it donates 100% of its profits to the children’s charity projects of its non-profit partner, Gulf for Good.
Its current focus is breaking the cycle of poverty through education in Cambodia, under approval licence PRHCE-005921833. Closer to home, it is all about keeping clothes out of landfill. The store reports that it has contributed more than AED 4 million to support children and rehomed more than 208,000 items through its stores, events and local distribution.
Thrift for Good has four locations in Dubai: stores at Palm Jumeirah, Times Square Center and The Market Mall in Dubai Investments Park, plus a Sustainability Hub in Al Quoz 1.
What volunteers do
Thrift for Good runs on volunteers. Khaleej Times reported in 2025 that it has a network of more than 3,000 volunteers, with about 70 active at any one time. Around 60% of donated items need some refurbishment when they arrive, so there is plenty to do.
- Palm Jumeirah store: sorting, steaming, pricing and restocking in the back, or serving customers and tidying the shop floor.
- Times Square Center store: serving customers, sorting, steaming, pricing, restocking and tidying. There is no back room here.
- The Market Mall (DIP): sorting donations, steaming, pricing, restocking and helping customers.
- Sustainability Hub (Al Quoz 1): sorting clothing donations, steaming, washing, mending and organising items before they go to the stores.
There is also a youth sewing and mending programme for 15 to 17 year olds. It has been fully booked, with a waitlist, so register interest early if you have a teenager keen to learn.
Who can volunteer
- Age: 18 and over for store and Hub roles. 15 to 17 for the youth programme.
- Commitment: at least one weekly shift of two hours or more, for a minimum of two months. Ongoing commitment is preferred.
- Certificate: available after a minimum of 50 hours.
- Pay: all roles are unpaid, with flexible hours.
How to get involved
- Visit the Thrift for Good volunteer page.
- Click “Be A Volunteer” to open the sign-up form.
- Choose an induction time and attend it.
- Pick a regular shift at the location that suits you. Stores take a limited number of volunteers at a time, so book ahead.
- Join the newsletter or WhatsApp group to hear about new opportunities.
Other ways to help
Donating is just as useful. Thrift for Good accepts preloved clothing and books, jewellery and watches, luxury and high-value items (with a note), and textiles such as sheets, pillow covers and curtains. Fabrics for recycling are welcome too, in separate bags.
It does not accept toys, baby seats, technology or hangers. Please wash and fold items before dropping them at a store. Stained or slightly damaged pieces are fine, as volunteers treat and repair them, and unsellable items are sent for recycling. A bag worth AED 10 or more earns a AED 10 store gift certificate.
For corporate donation drives, contact Jade at jade@thriftforgood.org. And of course, shopping in the stores helps too.
Good to know before you go
- Store hours are 10am to 10pm daily, and the Sustainability Hub is open 10am to 8pm.
- Parking is free at Palm Jumeirah. At Times Square Center it is free for two hours and on weekends. At the Hub, RTA parking is reimbursed with store credit.
- As a general tip, wear comfortable clothes you do not mind getting a little dusty when sorting donations.
- The two-month minimum is there for a reason. Training new volunteers takes time, so the team values people who can stick around. If you can only do a one-off, donating or shopping may suit you better.
Contact and links
- Website: thriftforgood.org
- Volunteer: thriftforgood.org/volunteer
- Donation FAQs: thriftforgood.org/give-faqs
- Email: hello@thriftforgood.org
If you love fashion, sustainability or simply a good sort-out, Thrift for Good is a very satisfying place to give your time.