Happy ending as book shop helps foodbank
A second-hand bookshop which kept avid readers happy during lockdown has now been helping keep the shelves at Stirling’s foodbank well stocked.
Maxwell Place store Stirling Books raised more than £500 recently for Startup Stirling.
The store, which is currently only open for online orders, held a Spooktober Fundraising raffle and collected donations for the charity.
Go Forth Stirling supported the event by donating sneeze screens and physical distancing floor stickers so the store could open for a day to host the fundraiser.
The bookstore’s manager Kayda Williams said: “We’ve not reopened yet following lockdown but we decided to open up for one day – on Halloween - so people could take part in the raffle and stock up on some books for winter.
“We were pleased with the help we got from Go Forth Stirling in bringing the screens and stickers along so quickly and we had a great day with lots of people coming in to visit us.
“We’ve redecorated the shop since lockdown and added some board games and seating spaces plus a section of free books. We hope to open up again fully soon but are erring on the side of caution for now.”
Stirling Books was recently Highly
Commended in the Scotland Loves Local campaign’s High Street Heroes Awards. Go Forth Stirling meanwhile was named Regional Champion in the awards, which recognise people, businesses and organisations who have gone above and beyond to support their communities through the coronavirus restrictions.
Stirling Books was recognised for its work to support local people during the pandemic by launching a free book drop off service.
Kayda came up with the idea to help people who were isolated during lockdown and spent weeks personally dropping free books off at their doorsteps.
It was just the latest initiative from Stirling Books which has won several awards for supporting local charities and community groups.
Kayda said: “It’s a lovely feeling to know people appreciated the effort we put in to help them. The idea really took off once we put the message out on our Facebook page and I enjoyed bagging up books and delivering them out to people as far afield as Doune and Falkirk.
“Lots of people were asking me to deliver books to others on their behalf and it was great to put a smile on their face and see them give a thumbs up and a wave through the window when I dropped their package of books off.”