The first day of business for Brent Knoll’s new ’emergency shop’ on Saturday (18th April) has been hailed a great success.
The opening of the new shop was undertaken by MP James Heappey over a live-streamed video link to his Axbridge home, where his two children helped him to do a ribbon-cutting to declare the new shop open.
The event was also watched by villagers who were waiting outside for the shop to open – while abiding by social distancing guidelines.
MP James Heappey said: “To everyone involved congratulations, especially as this is not the easiest time to be co-ordinating this. You have done phenomenally well to get it all ready. having a shop nearby where you can get the things you need is a hugely important community service.”
After two hours of opening on the first day, around £300 had been spent by a succession of villagers.
“From start to finish, we were all thrilled with how our first day went,” David Sturgess, a member of the project’s steering group, told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“In particular, it was uplifting to see – despite the strict distancing rules and rain showers – that many people who came were so obviously enjoying the opportunity for a gossip and a joke while waiting patiently in a good natured queue.”
For their opening day, the team had stocked the shop with all the most needed items, from fruit & vegetables to milk, flour, and fresh bread. They were also able to start the process of taking orders for newspapers and bread.
“While our volunteers will be refilling the shelves, they’re especially keen to get pre-orders for newspapers and many of the perishable food items, so as to minimise any wastage,” said David.
To that end, the team plans to produce and distribute a price list for customers to submit orders, whether in the shop or by ‘phone or email. The shop is from 9-11am every day excluding Sundays and Wednesdays.
“The most special moment of the day, perhaps, was when a customer asked whether we might have a 100th birthday card. Among the items of stock from the former shop was a 100th birthday card, so we had a surprised and happy customer – thanks to the continued help we’re getting from Caroline Chennells, the shop owner,” David added.
A recording of the virtual opening can be seen below and on Facebook.
Geplaatst door Brent Knoll Emergency Community Shop op Zaterdag 18 april 2020
