(l-r) Archbishop Barry Morgan, shop manager Karen Homans and Revd Christ Gray
The Archbishop of Wales has opened a charity shop set up by churches to support people in debt.
The Storehouse Community Shop is the first charity shop in Aberkenfig and will be run by eight local churches. It aims to raise about £600 a week which will go towards setting up a Christians Against Poverty debt centre and also local causes.
The shop employs a manager and a deputy manager part-time who are helped by about 20 volunteers from the churches. It sells good quality second-hard clothes, books and CDs.
Cutting the ribbon to open the shop, the Archbishop, Dr Barry Morgan, said, “This shop is an excellent example of Christianity in action – people working together to respond to a need and help others in their community. It will provide a service by selling second-hard items and the money raised will all go to helping others, particularly those among us who are facing increasing financial hardship and struggling with debt.”
Revd Stephen Pare, priest-in-charge of Aberkenfig, said the shop, on Bridgend Road, was the idea of church leaders from a variety of traditions in the community. He said, “It’s the result of nearly two years of regular, weekly-united prayer meetings. Our aim is to provide a service for the community – we talked to people and found out that they wanted a second-hand shop as there isn’t one at all in Aberkenfig. There was also a need to help people facing debt. So we hope this shop will raise about £6,000 to set up a debt centre. The charity, Christians Against Poverty, supports those in debt, helping some 20-50 families a week become debt-free.
“None of the money the Storehouse raises will assist the running costs of the churches and chapels – it will all go to the community.”
The Revd Chris Gray, Assistant Chair of the Methodist Synod, cut the cake to mark the occasion.
The churches supporting it are: Aberkenfig Bible Church, Aberkenfig Church of God, Wesley Methodist, Tondu, Nazareth Baptist Church, Bryncethin, St Roberts Roman Catholic Church, Aberkenfig, Smyrna Baptist Church, Penyfai, The Parish of All Saints Penyfai, and the Parish of Llansantffraid, Bettws and Aberkenfig.
The shop is open Monday -Thursday 10am -4pm and Saturday 10am – 1pm.
