Note: This Recent News post was written to celebrate the reopening of the shop on 2nd December 2020. Very sadly, the introduction by the government of new Tier 4 anti-Covid restrictions means that it must remain closed from Monday 21st December until further notice.
The Cherry Lodge Cancer Care charity shop, in Church Passage, Barnet, has thankfully emerged from the second national lockdown. The shop will now be open to customers from Monday to Saturday, between 9am and 4pm. Everything possible is being done to help people shop safely (as when we first reopened in July).
We look forward to receiving donated goods (between 9am and 10am), but ask you please to phone first to check that there is room for them. To prevent goods being stolen, please do not leave donations outside the shop when it is closed. For all shop enquiries, please call 020 8440 6287 and ask to speak to the Manager, Susan Brady, or Assistant Manager, Annys Douglas.
On Wednesday 2nd December 2020, the shop door was unlocked to welcome some very keen shoppers. A whole month without looking in on one’s favourite retail outlet has been quite difficult and many regular customers were very keen to return at the first opportunity. Volunteer Christine was placed on door duty to ensure the shop wasn’t overwhelmed, allowing only four customers in at any one time. Inside, volunteer Alex was happy to advise on a choice of ties and other purchases.
With the Christmas tree switched on in the window, the shop looks very bright and cheerful. Inside, the shelves are, almost literally, bursting with an amazing assortment of Christmas gifts, bric a brac, books, games, bags in all sizes and festive sweaters galore. Cherry Lodge Christmas cards are also on sale. There is certainly something for everybody. For a split second it was almost possible to forget that we were wearing face coverings and are still very much in the middle of a most difficult and depressing episode.
This was an extemely encouraging first day back in business. Susan and her two volunteers were kept busy all day, and by closing time had raised nearly £500 – a fantastic achievement.
Hopefully, you will find time to visit and buy some unusual gifts for family, friends and, perhaps, yourself!
Click on the small images below to see larger, complete photographs.
