A popular Melksham charity shop has returned to normal trading after a surge of support from new volunteers.
Cats Action Trust North & West Wiltshire suffered a massive drop in income after its Bath Road store was closed during the national lockdowns.
It reopened when restrictions were eased in April but its trading hours were initially limited due to the number of former volunteers remaining at home for health reasons.
However, following an appeal in the Melksham News and elsewhere, the charity has welcomed several new supporters.
This means the shop is now open five days a week, raising much-needed funds to rescue and rehome local cats and kittens.
Shop co-ordinator Karine Chevalier-Watts has been delighted by the response.
She said, “As we prepared to come out of lockdown, we were genuinely concerned by the financial impact of the pandemic and how we would recover.
“The shop is our biggest source of regular income, but we have no paid staff and rely entirely upon the goodwill of our volunteers, so a reduced team meant we could only commit to opening for four days each week.
“However, following the success of the appeal and the recruitment and training of the new volunteers, we are now back to opening five days each week and we have more people available to help with ‘backroom’ tasks such as sorting and pricing.
“This means we can recycle and sell even more donations, raising vital funds to provide safe and loving homes for cats and kittens in need of care.”
The Trust shop, near the town bridge, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-3.30pm. Special offers include CDs and DVDs for £1, ‘buy two, get one free’ on books, and children’s books at 30p each or four for £1.
Guidance on donations is available at www.catsactiontrust.org.uk/shop. Please do not leave any items on the doorstep.
The shop also acts as a collection point for donations of cat food and cat litter.
