Charity decides to reopen Limavady shop days after closing

A County Derry charity shop, which decided to shut its doors after receiving alleged threats, has announced plans to re-open just days after closing.

The Kindness of Strangers store in Limavady announced at the weekend that it was closing its doors for good due to a number of threats and social media backlash following an incident involving a homeless woman sleeping in the doorway of the shop last Thursday and Friday.

Today (Wednesday) however the charity took to Facebook to announce they have plans to stay in Limavady.

In a post on Facebook this morning, a charity spokesperson said: “Yesterday we met with our staff and volunteers to get an understanding of recent events and to agree how best to proceed with our Kindness of Strangers shop in Limavady as well as the support we offer to carers and children. In response to this we have decided that we would like to stay in Limavady (if the folk of Limavegas are happy to hold onto us).

“Over the last few days we have realised the important relationship we have with Limavegas – the people of Limavegas and the children and families of Limavegas. We have also realised that Limavady has been as much a family to us as we have been to the youngsters who have engaged in support services. We realise too how much we love what we do in Limavady and the difference we make and so if you will still have us we would like to stay.”

The post continued: “We do have a few practical problems to deal with since our entire shop has been cleared out, including the challenge of setting up a complete new shop. But that’s OK – it’s not as though we haven’t set a shop up before.”

The charity has informed the public that if they have donations to please hold them until Monday, December 16 after 9am. The charity has said that it is unlikely they will get the shop open this side of Christmas but they will “do their best”.

Kindness of Strangers Limavady thanked the local community for their support during this time, adding:
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contacted us offering support, including those individuals and organisations behind the scenes who have guided and reassured us. We would also like to thank one very important person who told us in no uncertain terms to get up, dust ourselves down and get on with it.

“We would like to put last week behind us and allow the Police and other agencies to deal with it. While this happens, we will continue to sort out Santa for children and get Christmas Hampers out to families.”