Caring for Cupar reflects on successful first year
Canon Pat McInally and manageress Isabel Hill inside the new community shop.
Cupar’s community charity shop is celebrating its first year in business - and a very busy one at that!
Caring for Cupar opened in Crossgate in June 2011 and since then has proved to be very successful, not only in raising funds, but also in making donations to very deserving local groups.
Manageress Isabel Hill said: “We have reached the target we set and although we did have a considerable set-up cost, we have still been able to make contributions towards various groups in Cupar.
“We have been involved with Elmwood College beauty, hairdressing and horticulture departments for the fashion show in February and provided fashion shots for the students to include in their portfolios in return for all their hardwork in preparing our models.
“Another fashion show is planned for February 2013 in the Corn Exchange where we hope to have their involvement again.”
She went on: “The Cupar Explorer Scouts and Cupar Monday Scouts have been very supportive by helping on a regular basis.
“Although other young groups had been approached only the Scouts showed an interest and have made an excellent contribution to the running of the shop, they also assisted at the fashion shop and their help is very much appreciated.”
Isabel went on to say that the shop’s involvement in the community was obvious in the first month of opening.
“When the young girl Karen Mckay won the £400 television in our opening raffle she sold the television to her grandad and he then donated his large flat screen television unit to the shop,” she said.
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“We contacted North Eden Home to see if they required a large television for one of their lounges.
“They were delighted to accept and donated £20 to the shop.
“So for one £1 raffle ticket, Karen got £400 towards her college fund, her grandad got his new television, North Eden Home got a large television unit and the shop benefitted by £20!
“That is a classic example of how we can work within the community.”
Groups to have benefitted during the first year are: Age Concern Cupar, Cupar Children’s Gala, Cupar Christmas Lights, Cupar Highland Games calendar, Adamson hospital cafe, Cupar Explorer Scouts, Cupar Monday Scouts, Adamson Hospital League of Friends, Ferryfield Playgroup and Home Start Cupar.
Isabel said the shop’s success has been down to the help and support she has received from staff and volunteers, as well as local businesses including the Keystore in Ladywynd and the Tontine cafe in County Buildings which both have counter tins for donations.
She also praised shop founder Canon Pat McInally for his ‘unwavering’ help and said her, ‘dream of a shop to benefit the community of Cupar and surrounding villages’ has been realised.
Isabel added: “We are now looking forward to the next year when the funds available should be considerably more.
n Anyone who would like to volunteer at Caring for Cupar should call 01334 656055.
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Sunday 26 May 2013
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