In the UK most high streets have Charity Shops for everything from the local hospice to the local cat’s home trying to raise money. Given the high street is dying in the UK (out of town shopping centres) these shops are keeping the high streets going.
In Spain they do not seem to popular but in Torrevieja they are on the increase.
I support my local Alzheimer Charity Shop by donating , buying and volunteering (I love re-organising the book dept) - if you are in the area (their shop is behind the main church) please call in and grab a bargain - including 3 books for 1?.
Alzeimer’s is:
“Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. “

The stats in the USA are quite amazing see here: http://youtu.be/oF7iD0B8jWU

We are lucky enough to have lots of charity shops on the Costa del Sol (I love to buy books too Robi 😉
I will always donate my unwanted stuff to them too.

Many are animal charities, but there is also RBL, Help Aged, and of course locally Cudeca for cancer care.

I have not seen any Spanish organizations, except the odd one here and there.
But am just glad we have the ones we do 😊

I haven’t noticed any around Valencia. There are quite a lot of antique stores and second hand clothes shops, but none seem to be for charity.

Yes certain organisations like RBL, Help the Aged are recognised by the UK Government and are ‘partners’ see here
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/pensions-benefits/

Many others are springing up mainly for animals (cats, dogs, horses) and their are rumours surrounding their legitimacy and exactly where is the money going (for some of them anyway)

The Spanish are not so keen on 2nd hand and would only consider used clothes for example as a last resort, mind you with times being so hard my local Alzeimers is selling a lot of clothes but mainly to immigrants.

Also of course Spain has other ways of supporting groups ie the ONCE lottery, and did you know the Estancos used to only be licensed to widows of servicemen killed in action, although that has now changed.