Salvation Army looks for new premises

AFTER attracting bargain hunters for more than three decades Great Yarmouth's Salvation Army shop is looking for new premises.The second-hand shop, based in Market Row since 1974, will be closing its doors for the final time later this month.

AFTER attracting bargain hunters for more than three decades Great Yarmouth's Salvation Army shop is looking for new premises.

The second-hand shop, based in Market Row since 1974, will be closing its doors for the final time later this month.

Now, after groaning for so long under the weight of assorted clothes, shoes and bric-a-brac, the store will soon be empty.

However, as one era ends a new one is due to start, with the Salvation Army planning to open a new shop, furniture store and café under one roof elsewhere in the town centre.

Great Yarmouth Citadel Corps commanding officer Captain Nigel Byrne said: “The Care and Share Shop acts as a social outreach centre and many of the people who need our services go there.

“We may have to find temporary premises for the shop before moving to somewhere more permanent.

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to the owner for the use of the shop and would like to thank our loyal customers for all their support.”

The Christian charity hands out more than 400 food parcels to vulnerable people in Yarmouth every year, provides food vouchers and sleeping blankets for the homeless and runs a youth club for youngsters on the Middlegate Estate.

Shop manager Mary Hunn said: “People in Great Yarmouth are very generous donating items for the shop. We have been given everything from rocking horses, bicycles, a set of bowls and even forceps.

“We have lots of regular customers hunting for bargains, and are always ready to talk to people and offer them our prayers - this is much more than a shop.”

The shop closes on Saturday, December 20 and cannot accept

any further donations until further notice.