Richmond charity shops reopens with an alternative system for donations

Herriot Hospice Homecare's Richmond shop.

Herriot Hospice Homecare has reopened its Richmond charity shop but with an alternative system for donations.

The store in Finkle Street will adhere to one metre-plus social distancing, PPE and hygiene requirements, and each store will have a minimum number of customers that can enter dependent on footage and layout.

In order to ensure that all donations are quarantined for 72 hours before sale, and because of space constraints the temporary drop off point will be open between 10am and 4pm (excluding furniture), Tuesday to Saturday, at Unit 3, Omega Business Village, Thurston Road, Northallerton, DL6 2NJ.

Supporters are being asked to donate their preloved items there instead of taking items to shops for the time being.

Gift Aid will not be possible during this interim period and Herriot Hospice Homecare are reminding people that they will be unable to return boxes and bags used to deliver the donations in order to adhere to hygiene measures.

Enquiries regarding furniture donations would be welcomed to the Richmond shop on 01748 821599.

Chief executive Tony Collins said: “We are delighted that we are able to begin opening the doors of our wonderful shops following a thorough period of planning and preparation and keen to welcome our customers back.

“Naturally the safety of our customers, volunteers and employees has been at the very heart of our decision making.

“We are thankful that so many local people have been keeping their donations safe at home for us.

“In order to manage the required quarantine of goods to the highest possible standards; we have centralised the receipt of donations for the safety of everyone.

“For this reason we will be unable to take donations in at our shops and instead would ask for items to be taken to our temporary donation drop off point.

“We would very much like to thank Chris Herron at Herron Associates, and William Birch & Sons Limited for their support in making this alternative arrangement happen”

Herriot Hospice Homecare says its community shops play an essential role in supporting local people with terminal illness and bereavement, making a significant contribution towards the provision of these vital local services.