Dear Friends,

It was eight years ago this month that the Care and Share Charity Shop first opened its’ doors to the general public here in Histon and Impington. 

Since that time, the Charity Shop has gone from strength to strength and to that end, we will always give thanks for the
vision and work of our predecessor, Captain Denise Cooper, and the great support of Divisional Headquarters in setting the shop up back in 2001.

It has been wonderful to see how the shop has become an established part of community life.  Customers are able to come and find good bargains for sale.   Yet, even more importantly, they are able to come and feel valued.   This is because the volunteers who work there make a great effort to befriend the customers and so it is quite common for customers to pop into the shop to chat to the staff (sometimes not buying anything!).  And this was always the primary goal of the shop, to become a meeting place for people in our community.   

As a church, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the volunteers, both past and present, who give of their time to help The Salvation Army in this way.  They are a great advert for the Salvation Army at work in our community. 

Perhaps one of the greatest successes of the shop has also been the impact that it has had on the volunteers who work there.  What we have seen happen is how each shift of volunteers becomes like a family as they often become good friends with each other.  This makes an impact too with the customers who come in at specific times each week to chat to the volunteers who are on duty at that time.  In this edition of the newsletter, you will also be able to read the moving story of Fonz Chamberlain, and how working in the shop has helped him get back on his feet with his life.   

As the shop is 8 years old this month, we echo the words of 1 Chronicles 16:8, (NIV) “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” We thank God for the success of the shop! 

Next time you pop into the charity shop, why not just say thanks to the
volunteers for the work they are doing.  They’ll be pleased to see you and give you a warm welcome!  

May God bless you,

Paul & Louise Wood
Captains