A charity shop in Stroud is about to celebrate its first birthday – and is inviting customers and supporters to a birthday party.
Shop Manager Sarah Jones told Stroud Times: “It’s the Teckels Charity Shop’s first birthday on Saturday, 22nd November so we’re going to have a bit of a celebration, some cake and some drinks in the shop.
“We’re also going to be having Pup Cups courtesy of Starbucks, so if you want to bring your dog, we’ll have those ready and waiting. We’ve got lots of winter dog coats and Christmas dog jumpers for them to try on as well, and lots of ethical Christmas gifts available to buy.”
The party runs all day on Saturday, from 9am – 5pm at the Teckels shop in Russell Street (next door to the Lord John Wetherspoons pub).
Sarah said the first year at the shop has been a success: “It’s been the first year of a brand-new business. There have been some challenges as normally happens – even the shop flooding unfortunately at one point, but we’re doing good.
“We need more people to know that we’re here though. That’s a really crucial thing because we’re not on the main high street.”
Sarah explained that the charity’s rescue centre in Whitminster has faced massive price hikes, running costs rising by £30,000 a month. The shop – the charity’s first – helps raise money to keep the centre running and also provides low-cost pet supplies to help with the high cost of pet ownership, with the aim of keeping more pets with their families: “Our animal rescue is facing severe hardship currently and we are struggling to keep going. Our costs have risen in the last two years by £30,000 per month, to a total of £75,000 per month. We are completely independent and solely reliant on the support of customers and donors.”
Sarah said she would welcome more volunteers: “We always need more help in the shop and at the rescue centre in Whitminster. We always need more hands available. The shop volunteer role generally involves either working out on the shop floor, serving the customers, helping to keep everything well stocked and looking nice, or it’s going to be prepping stock out the back, helping to make all of our donations look good.”
To find out more about Teckels click here.
