On Wednesday 1st November, a sold-out Lock-in event took place at St Barnabas Hospice’s flagship charity shop The Warehouse in Lincoln, where secondhand shoppers were invited to start their early Christmas shopping and get their hands on some brilliant bargains.
During the Warehouse’s second public Lock-in since opening in February 2022, shoppers were able to browse exclusively new-with-tags stock and take an early first look at Christmas items, including everything from vintage, retro, designer and high street clothing, books, unique homeware, and furniture.
Over 1,200 items were sold in just three hours, raising over £6,500 to support St Barnabas’ mission to bring high quality, compassionate and dignified end-of-life care to people in Lincolnshire.
Whilst browsing thousands of kindly donated items, attendees were able to enjoy gin and rum from the local creators of Pin Gin, made in partnership with St Barnabas for the Hospice’s 40th anniversary. They could also take home a loaded brownie from local dessert specialists, Sinple Treats.
The Warehouse shop manager, Emma-Jayne Parker says: “The Lock-in event was a resounding success! It’s great to see so many local individuals and bloggers who have a passion for sustainable shopping come together to support hospice care in the local community.
“We have 24 shops across the county. Please visit your local St Barnabas charity shop this Christmas, where you can give sustainable shopping a try, find some second-hand bargains and purchase some of our Christmas cards.”
Caroline Peach, Head of Retail at St Barnabas Hospice, comments: “With the current cost-of-living crisis, individuals are looking for ways to streamline their spending now more than ever. With the festive season approaching, by shopping in our charity shops you can save money, find unique gifts, prevent landfill waste and support local hospice care all at once.
“We are so pleased to have hosted such a wonderful event for the second year in a row. The feedback has been incredible, and we raised over £6,500. This is largely thanks to the quality of our donations, which we are very grateful for. From everyone at St Barnabas, we would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who came along.”
You can find your local St Barnabas shop here: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/shop. Alongside our 24 county-wide charity shops, you can also purchase merchandise via the St Barnabas online shop.
Caroline adds: “We are always looking for more shop volunteers to join our teams. No matter your experience or how much time you can spare, we would love to hear from you!
“As well as making a difference to hospice care in Lincolnshire, volunteering enables you to gain valuable skills, meet new people and have the first look at all our brilliant donations.”
“If you’re interested in volunteering, visit your local St Barnabas charity shop to find out some more information or take a look online.”
To find out more about volunteering for St Barnabas Hospice, visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer/