USPCA Unveils Second Charity Store Location

The USPCA has officially opened its second Charity Store, featuring as the newest addition to Lurgan’s retail scene. At its opening on Friday [3^rd December], USPCA Chair John Farrell was delighted to cut the ribbon and welcome staff, volunteers, and members of the public to the new premises.

The launch of the new Charity Store is a significant milestone for the Charity, despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic over the last year and a half and follows the success of its first store in Banbridge which opened in May 2019. Both Stores feed into the Charity’s plans to expand its operations in the years ahead.

USPCA Chair, John Farrell, said, “It is a real pleasure to be able to welcome the people of Lurgan and beyond to our new store which will play a vital role in supporting our work towards the relief of suffering in animals, the prevention of cruelty to animals, and the advancement of animal welfare in Northern Ireland. We really appreciate the support of the public through their custom, donations of pre-loved goods, and volunteering of their time.”

The Charity Store will sell a range of high-quality items, including clothes and accessories, books, and household items.

Commenting on the Store opening, USPCA Chief Executive, Brendan Mullan, said, “This is a really exciting time for the USPCA, as we continue to scale up our operations. Our Charity Stores play such a vital role by supporting our charitable work through its sales. As such the public’s backing goes hand in hand – we are very grateful for the fantastic reception our new store has received in Lurgan so far.”

Operating throughout the pandemic, the USPCA has continued to help animals in need, rehoming over 170 animals, treating over 3,800 animals at its animal hospital, distributing over 3,500 pet food parcels to pet owners in need, undertaking nearly 250 wildlife rescues, and issuing over 700 veterinary vouchers to ensure injured animals receive immediate veterinary treatment.

“The last two years have represented a very different and challenging time for the USPCA, like many other charities, we had to adapt to the times. However, the hard work of our staff and volunteers during this time, was empowered by the generosity of the public. With monetary donations, pet food donations, and the volunteering of time to support our team, we really felt the public’s support. As we open the doors to our new store, we would love to hear from anyone who would like to donate any pre-loved items, or indeed, a few hours or days of their time, as this has a massive impact on our work,” continued Brendan.

Volunteering with the USPCA retail team offers the opportunity to gain valuable retail skills, meet new people, and improve your learning and key skills. If you would like to get involved, please ring 028 3025 1000 or fill in a volunteer application form at www.uspca.co.uk/charity-store-volunteer.

The Charity Store is also welcoming donations of the following:

• Ladies, men’s and children’s clothing
• Shoes
• Jewellery, watches
• Bags – handbags, casual bags etc.
• Furniture e.g. Sofa’s, dining room tables, coffee table, nest of tables, stools, TV stand, small chairs etc
• Pictures & Canvas
• Ornaments, vases, figurines, pottery, glassware
• DVD’s and CD’s
• Books
• Arts and Crafts
• General household