Card sale captures the spirit of Christmas

ONE of the most meaningful and traditional Christmas gestures is the giving and receiving of cards.

As the festive season approaches, the Midland Charities Association (MCA) Christmas Card Shop - run completely by volunteers - is delighted to announce that last year’s efforts in Stratford helped raise £14,000 for worthy causes, purely from the sale of charitable Christmas cards and sundries.

The MCA card shop in Stratford was opened in the United Reformed Church (URC) in Rother Street on Wednesday 19th October by Stratford Mayor, Cllr Juliet Short and is run by volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

“This is a totally voluntary effort but it raises money for so many important causes. There will be over 20 different charities representing all types of national and local charities including The Shakespeare Hospice and for the first time we will be selling Myton Hospice and hopefully The Friends of Stratford Hospital cards,” Catherine Davies, shop organiser said.

“Because it’s voluntary we can afford to only deduct one per cent from our members and a further five per cent from our guest charities who do not take responsibility of an MCA shop. This would not be possible without the continuing support of the URC allowing us to use their facilities.”

MCA is a voluntary group of member charities founded 47 years ago in order to try to work towards relieving human suffering. The organisation over that time has raised £5.785 million by selling Christmas Cards.

Open from now until Wednesday 14th December the shop opening hours from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. There is also disabled access for mobility scooters and wheelchairs on site.