Brora Thrift Shop raises £18,000 in best year ever
The Thrift Shop at Brora
Volunteers at The Thrift Shop in Brora are celebrating their best year ever.
The small charity shop raised the grand total of £18,000 during the last financial year
Management committee chairman Ann Gregory said it was the most the shop had made since it opened five years ago.
"This has been our best year and we are delighted," she said. "We generally raise an average of £15,000 a year and to increase that sum is a real boost."
The shop, which has a bee hive and squirrel painted on its sign symbolising industry and thrift, supports local causes.
Donations are made annually in May and this year around 20 organisations received £900 each with another six groups granted £120 each.
A list of the beneficiaries has been posted in the shop.
Mrs Gregory said: "We always make a donation every year to an organisation that might not be based in our district but benefits local people.
"This year we gave to Macmillan Cancer Support whereas previously we have donated to the Lawson Memorial Hospital and Crossroads Care."
The shop, situated at 14 Gower Street, is staffed by 22 volunteers who work on a rota basis. Open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, it is very popular with local people, and also attracts its fair share of visitors.
Mrs Gregory revealed: "There are two regular visitors to the village who buy wool from the shop which they then crotchet into full-size blankets. On their next visit to Brora, they hand in the finished blankets to be sold on."
She recalled a mother and daughter, on holiday from Holland, who called into the shop and were thrilled with their purchase.
"The young girl was going home to attend her first High School party and she found a perfect dress for just £6. She was quite delighted," she said.
Mrs Gregory added: "A German girl came in recently and bought up all our buttons. Apparently she makes bangles out of them."
She went on to thank local people for supporting the shop through donations of clothes and other items.
