Grantham charity retailer reopens its doors after 'devastating' lockdown
A charity shop is reopening its doors for the first time since March.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is reopening its Lincolnshire stores and is urging local residents to support them in its recovery from the coronavirus crisis.
Situated on High Street, both the BHF charity shop and BHF Furniture & Electrical Store have reopened as of today [Monday].
The stores are among 750 BHF shops that have been closed since early March due to the pandemic.
The charity estimates the crisis has been costing it around £10 million a month, which it fears could impact its future funding for research in the region.
The BHF says it is thrilled to be reopening its doors and is asking the local community to support it by donating good quality items or popping in to snap up a bargain. Every item donated and sold will help raise vital funds for research into heart and circulatory diseases.
BHF shops and stores will have new measures in place to keep staff, volunteers and customers safe. This includes social distancing on the shop floor, protective equipment for staff and volunteers, and the contact free collection and processing of donated items.
Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Our charity shops run purely on the support of the public, which is why we treasure every customer who shops with us. Every item we sell helps fund our vital research.
“The coronavirus crisis has had a devastating impact on our income, and we anticipate having to cut our research budget by around £50 million this year. Now, more than ever, we are in urgent need of public support and donations to enable us to continue to support the charity’s important work.
“Each pound raised in our shops helps us to support those 560,000 people in the East Midlands living with heart and circulatory diseases, many of whom are at increased risk from Covid-19. Your donations can help us help them.
“We are hugely grateful for the patience of all our customers and look forward to welcoming you back very soon.”
In line with Government advice and to keep customers safe, all donations given to the BHF will now be rested for 72 hours before being placed on the shop floor. Customers will also be able to donate at new contact-free donation points set up at every BHF shop entrance.
For larger donations to BHF home stores, donors will be able to book a free collection service online from Monday July 27. All pick-ups will be contact-free. For smaller donations, the BHF has also launched a new postal donation service, making it even easier to donate without hitting the high street.