Shop has Christmas all wrapped up
More than 40 charities have set up stall in a Shrewsbury church to sell their Christmas cards.
The annual Charity Christmas card shop in St Mary's Church, Dogpole raises around £55,000 each year and the proceeds of the sales are split between the charities.
The shop doesn't just sell thousands of cards - there are also diaries, calendars and a huge choice of wrapping paper on offer.
Head of publicity Sally Johnson said the shop, which opened on Friday was a huge boost for smaller local charities allowing them to sell their newly designed cards, along with some old favourites, while raising much needed funds.
Sally, who founded the Harry Johnson Trust which supports children with cancer, in memory of her seven year old son Harry who died of the disease, said: "This year's Christmas Card Shop is selling a huge range of cards from both local and national charities.
"It is a great marketplace for these charities and always has great support from people in Shrewsbury.
"Local charities make the most of being in St Mary's Church to sell their Christmas cards and it is a really good help for them.
"As well as the national charities, such as the Inland Waterways Trust and the Alzheimer's Association, we have a lot of local charities.
"Because the shop is staffed by volunteers and the costs of being in the church are very low, charities get around 97 per cent of the value of the cards they sell, which is far more than they would get if they were sold in chain stores and shops.
"We know that people are sending far fewer Christmas cards now, but we would encourage anyone who still does to come along to the shop in St Mary's because it makes all the difference."
Cards range in price from £1 for 10 to £4 for 10 cards and there are both religious and non-religious themes.
The shop will be open Monday to Saturday from 10.15am-4pm until December 5.
