Rasen’s Salvation Army shop reopens

“There is a long way to go yet, but there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”
Terence Carpenter and shop manager Sarah Steer EMN-200915-073402001Terence Carpenter and shop manager Sarah Steer EMN-200915-073402001
Terence Carpenter and shop manager Sarah Steer EMN-200915-073402001

That is the message from Market Rasen Salvation Army Territorial Envoy and Commanding Officer terry Carpenter as the John Street centre reopened its charity shop this week.

Until two weeks ago, shop manager Sarah Steer had been furloughed, but since then she has been leading the way to de-clutter the shop, freshen it up and make it covid secure for the reopening.

Terry said: “Sarah has worked her fingers to the bone and we have had lots of donations coming in to keep us going.”

As with other charity shops, all donations are ‘isolated’ for a period of time before they and sorted and put out for sale. Further donations are welcome - but no electricals or furniture.

Contactless payment has also been introduced.

Sarah said: “We want people to come and see us.

“You don’t have to buy anything, but come and say hello.

“We will be working on reduced hours of 10am to 2.30pm Monday to Saturday.

“We decided to keep every day the same opening to make it easier for people to remember.”

The Salvation Army centre will continue to be open each day from 9am to 1pm to allow people to access the food bank, which has distributed more than 300 parcels during the 
lockdown period.

Sunday services have also resumed, although without the usual singing and band, and Millie’s Market is 
back at on Friday mornings.

Terry said: “We are looking to get back to some sort of normality.”

He also praised the generosity of people for the work 
the Salvation Army does.

Terry said: “We have been overwhelmed by people’s actions.

“One man regularly goes to the Co-op, spends £100 on food and donates it to us. We had a lady call in and say she had some money left over this month, so wanted us to 
have it - we thank them all.

“We don’t have a monopoly on good deeds, over the past few months people have rolled up their sleeves 
and got on with it.

“My philosophy is if you can do it do it - and that is 
what has happened.”

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