The mayor, Cllr Bruce Dowling, flanked by Emma Dell, Sara Lee Trust’s area retail manager, left, and Nichola Coglan, the Ore shop supervisor.

Mayor opens new Sara Lee shop in Ore

With the aid of the mayor, Sara Lee Trust has opened a new charity shop which establishes its presence in Ore. Volunteers are still wanted to help staff the new outlet. Nick Terdre reports.

Crowds flocked to the shop at 460 Old London Road – opposite the junction with Fairlight Road – when it was opened by the mayor, Cllr Bruce Dowling, last Saturday, 27 February, the trust tells HOT. They were able to browse and purchase from the exciting and varied range of donated goods on sale, including ladies and men’s clothing, fashion accessories, furniture and home furnishings, collectables and vintage items, as well as bric-a-brac and books. After cutting the ribbon to mark the official opening, the mayor also mingled among charity staff, volunteers and customers.

“The opening exceeded all our expectations and we would like to thank everyone who has donated items for sale, and everyone who came along, for their support,” said Emma Dell, Sara Lee’s area retail manager. “We are always in need of donated stock for our shops, so if you are having a clear-out, please consider donating your items to the trust.”

With the addition of the Ore outlet, the trust operates five charity shops across Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill, the proceeds from which form a vital part of its annual income. “The income generated through the sale of donated goods is critical to our ability to meet local need for our services, which continues to grow,” says chief executive, Dan Redsull.

Business has continued to be brisk in the new shop through the week, Emma says, but more volunteers would be welcome. The shop is open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, and both morning and afternoon shifts are available.

Sara Lee Trust is an independent local charity which has for 20 years been providing specialist counselling, creative and complementary therapies and therapeutic group activities to people in Hastings and Rother who are living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. It is also the dedicated provider of those services to patients of St Michael’s Hospice and the Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital. The charity receives no statutory funding for its core services, which are totally reliant on public support and fundraising.

Volunteering If you are interested in becoming part of Sara Lee Trust’s friendly team, contact Emma on 01424 272 519.

Donating items Items can be dropped off at any of the shops – the others are at 41A Cambridge Road, Hastings; 1 Sedlescombe Road North, Silverhill; 61 Western Road, Bexhill; and 9 Endwell Road, Bexhill – or at the donation centre in Beeching Park Industrial Estate, Bexhill. They can also be collected – for details of this service, call 01424 272 358.

See also Wanted: volunteers for Sara Lee Trust

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