Shop owners donate their thank you gift to community hub

WHEN neighbours across Evendons went to thank owners of the corner shop, they got an unexpected response.

Like many streets across the borough, residents have come to rely on the Evendons Convenience Store for their daily essentials — and not so essentials.

Road resident Emma Chatterton said shop owners Mahel, Thaya and their son Sadeev have “been amazing providing an invaluable service to the local residents”.

She toldWokingham.Today: “They haveworked so hard ensuringwe all had what we needed without having to venture to the large stores.

“Whenever something was out of stock in the big supermarkets you could rely on our local store for having it.

“Fromtoilet roll, pasta and flour to avocados and chorizo, they had it all.

They really excelled themselves.”

To thank the family, residents started a JustGiving page and raised £310 as a gift.

Mrs Chatterton said: “As a community we had a collection to show our appreciation to them … we went to give them the card, flowers and money.”

But arriving at the shop last Friday, the couple turned the money down.

Mrs Chatterton added: “We were all a bit gobsmacked really.

“Once again they showed what amazing people they are by, without hesitation, asked for themoney to be donated to the Wokingham Community Hub.

“They said, ‘We should be thanking you for supporting us’ during the lockdown.

“It was totally selfless.” (From left) Sadeev, Thaya and Mahel were presented with flowers, a card and £310.