A North Lakes charity shop preparing to throw open its doors next week when COVID-19 restrictions will be eased is inviting residents to bring along items to an organised donation event today.
Hospice at Home, which has premises in Museum Square, will be open from noon to 5pm today to accept goods from generous members of the public.
Helping out on the day will be Marc McAdam, who in January had been inundated with donations after putting a “shout out” on Facebook for people to give their unwanted Christmas gifts to the shop.
Marc had to take down his social media post after having received more than 100 bags of good quality merchandise within two days.
He was helping out his friend Marie Davidson, who manages the shop, after she expressed concerns that the store had not been receiving goods at what is traditionally its busiest time of year for donations.
Marc said: “She was worried that the shop was missing out on good and vital donations at a prime time when people tend to get rid of things.
“I put out a Facebook announcement that I was prepared to take in and store items.
“Somebody whose mother had died turned up with 40 black plastic bags of goods.
“My bedroom and store rooms have just become storage areas for all these goods and in the last two weeks we have been given permission to put in excess of 100 bags and boxes of donations in the shop.
‘’I support Hospice at Home because the money stays local. They have a really good band of volunteers, some of whom I know, and they are eager to get back in there.’’
The shop is expected to open again on Monday.
Marc added: “I was inundated with donations after my first appeal but but we are ready to take on more. Hospice at Home really does support our local community and I am proud to have helped in a small way.”