Perth charity shop ready to reopen doors for first time since beginning of lockdown

A Perth charity shop will reopen its doors this week for the first time since the beginning of lockdown.

End of life care charity Marie Curie will welcome the public back to its Scott Street store from Tuesday, July 7 with a spokesperson adding it“urgently needs the support of customers now more than ever”.

The Perth outlet will be only one of a small selection of Scottish Marie Curie stores to open as part of a pilot, and was chosen especially as the shop allows space for social distancing.

The charity needs to raise a quarter of a million pounds a week to run its Scottish services which include its nursing service supporting people in their own homes across Perth and Kinross.

Ann-Marie Strang, Marie Curie retail district manager, said:“Not only do our shops provide a vital income so we can continue caring for dying people and their loved ones, but we know lots of customers have also missed being able to come into our shop, hunt for a bargain and talk to our staff and volunteers.

“Charity shops give a sense of community you don’t always get in other high street stores.

“We want everyone to feel supported and the safety of our staff, volunteers and customers is of the upmost importance, so we’ll be following a comprehensive range of safety measures.

“These include the quarantine of donations for a minimum of 72 hours to reduce the risk of contamination, increased cleaning, hand sanitiser stations and face coverings for staff and volunteers, as well as floor markings to ensure social distancing.

“Many of us have been sorting and clearing out preloved items from our homes.

“If you have any quality clothing, footwear, accessories, DVDs, CDs, books, homewares and small electrical items, please donate them to Marie Curie.

“The money we raise is essential for the charity to continue its vital work.”