A HOMELESSNESS charity is set to reopen its shop after a 15-week closure during the lockdown.
Emmaus will welcome back customers from Monday, April 12, to the store on Red Lane, Coventry, which usually accounts for a third of its annual income.
The closure has meant a loss of valuable income which would have been used to provide accommodation, food, and support to help people rebuild their lives after being homeless.
As well as providing vital funds for the charity, the Emmaus Coventry and Warwickshire also shop provides work experience, training, and a sense of purpose for the people it supports and is key in helping people regain their confidence and self-esteem.
Geraldine Tsakirakis, the charity’s community director, said: “We are delighted to be reopening our shop and welcoming back our supporters.
“The Emmaus shop is a fantastic resource for anyone in need of quality affordable items, anyone wanting to embark on an upcycling project or looking for quirky, vintage, and retro items, or for anyone who wants to shop responsibly, buy second-hand, and look after our environment.”
Bosses have followed advice from the Government and Charity Retail Association to implement measures to keep everyone safe, including limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time, markings and signs throughout the shop and a hand sanitiser station.
The shop stocks a wide range of good quality pre-loved items, including furniture, homeware and bric-a-brac.
The charity offers a free collection service from homes and businesses in the local area.
Anyone who has unwanted items to donate can call 02476 6611466 to book a collection appointment.
The shop will open from 10am to 4pm everyday apart from Sunday.
Visit emmaus.org.uk/coventry-warwickshire for more information.
