A charity shop boss has sounded an SOS call for volunteers.
The RNLI shop at Kippford is on the look out for new helpers for its outlet, which raises vital funds for the dedicated volunteer crew.
Jo Cockerill, who has managed the shop for more than 20 years, said: “My husband and son had been part of the lifeboat crew so it was good to be involved as a family and feel like I was contributing to the cause.
“I enjoy meeting people, many of our customers are on holiday and it’s lovely to see them enjoying our beautiful area.
“We’re lucky to have a dedicated team of shop volunteers and it would be great to expand this and bring some new faces on board.”
Last year was the shop’s most successful yet, despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The volunteers were delighted with the amount raised and are keen to provide the best service possible for the coming season.
The idea of fundraising shops for lifeboat teams around the UK began more than 100 years ago as simple cake stalls.
RNLI community manager, Lynsey Anderson, said: “These stalls started selling commemorative RNLI products in around 1920 and quickly moved on to selling souvenirs and Christmas cards with all profits helping save lives at sea.
“The first shop to be run as part of an actual lifeboat station opened in 1990.
“Today, we have more than 170 RNLI shops around the coast and inland, all of which are still run by our dedicated volunteers.
“They attract many visitors throughout the year and stock an excellent range of unique souvenirs and gifts.
“The pandemic unfortunately hit our shops hard as they closed for periods of time in line with Covid-19 restrictions.
“We were delighted when we could reopen them safely in accordance with government guidance and are looking forward to welcoming our visitors in 2022.
To find out more about how you can help at the Kippford shop, visit https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/shop-volunteerskippford-474231.html
