Oxfam is appealing for new volunteers

OXFAM in Bray has made a fresh appeal for volunteers as the shop on Quinsboro Road has re-opened.

‘At the start of April we made the difficult decision to close our shop - to protect staff, volunteers and customers, and to play our part in Ireland’s response to Covid-19,’ said shop manager Mary Rogers.

Oxfam’s shops play a role in supporting the charity’s work in some of the world’s poorest countries, helping people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive, as well as saving lives when disaster strikes.

‘Myself and my team are now thankfully back doing what we do best and our shop is now open after two months of closure,’ said Mary. ‘The loss of income during this period dealt a massive blow to the capacity of Oxfam and our work to beat poverty and fight inequality.

‘We are in desperate need of volunteers,’ she said.

Anyone interested in lending some time to the cause is invited to pop in and let them know.

‘Our shop is a hive of activity with lots of chats and opportunities to meet new people, learn new skills and of course, have plenty of fun along the way,’ said Mary.

Another way people can offer support is to get de-cluttering and drop their donations of clothes, accessories and bric-abrac to the shop.

‘It only takes a minute to bag up unwanted items and drop them to Oxfam, but it makes a lifetime of difference to people living in poverty around the world – especially with Covid-19 now reaching some of the most fragile places on earth, where Oxfam is on the ground responding,’ said Mary.

‘We are really looking forward to welcoming customers back over the coming weeks and hope their support and generosity will continue into the future.’