HUNDREDS of customers flocked to the new St Richard’s Hospice shop in Stourport after its official opening last Saturday, writes Charlie Canning.
The store – the hospice’s biggest – will help the charity generate funds for those who need its services.
The shop on Tannery Retail Park, Lombard Street, is open from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and between 10,30am and 4.30pm on Sundays, offering a variety of furniture, homeware and books.
Dan Corns, associate director of Retail Operations for St Richard’s, said: “We’ve loved seeing shoppers enjoying the new retail space after months of hard work preparing to open.
“Our thanks go to everyone involved in getting the shop ready, including our volunteers.
“Since the store’s preview night on Friday, we have served more than 480 customers and sold more than 1,400 items helping raise the funds we need for our free palliative and end-of-life care.
“We simply couldn’t continue our services without the income raised by our shops and fundraising activities.
“Our new superstore will play an important part in helping secure our future, at a financially challenging time for hospices nationally.”
The hospice costs £12million-a-year to run and supports around 3,100 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire each year.
David Bishop, who was admitted to hospice last December and was cared for on one of the in-patient Units (IPU), cut the ribbon to open the superstore.
Mr Bishop said: “St Richard’s is a special place, with a team of special people, that survives mostly on donations – I owe my life to them.”
June Sankey, who is the charity’s longest serving volunteer and who has supported the hospice for more than 41 years, also cut the ribbon.
The superstore is now accepting donations in a good condition for resale with the funds raised helping the charity continue its care.
Visit: strichards.org.uk for more information.
