Stroud Salvation Army’s newest donation shop, located by their church on Acre Street, opened to great success on Thursday, September 1.
Excitable youngsters were among the first to eagerly crowd into Sally’s Emporium to see the vast array of goods on offer, which include books, toys, clothes, jewellery, DVDs and pictures.
The shop is pioneered by former serviceman Colin Rowley, who is championing the youth of Stroud.
With this latest venture, the Salvation Army’s aim is to raise enough money to extend the opening hours of their youth group to include Friday nights as well, giving the youth of Stroud somewhere to gather.
The corps is also keen to nurture fledgling talent, running activities like youth music workshops.
Before its grand unveiling, the young members of this group came together to paint the shop, which had lain unused for years.
Lieutenant Teresa Conway, who took up her appointment at the Stroud Salvation Army a month ago, said, “Our passion is to reach young people, and kids that through the holidays have nothing to do.
“It’s better to have somewhere to go and have a coffee than walk around town with nothing to do.”
Colin said that without this safe outlet, young people are vulnerable to danger.
“They’re in the parks, or walking around the streets, or on the building sites, looking for things to do, and they end up in trouble,” he said.
The pair’s dedication to helping the people of Stroud is abundantly clear, and they recognise that this shop is a start to funding the opportunities that young people desperately need.
This includes ambitions to provide computers to allow homeless people to bid for housing, and a youth drop-in room.
“The shop also gives us an opportunity to get to know people in the community. If they need a chat, a prayer or a food parcel, then the shop is another place where they might come to ask for some help,” Teresa said.
Sally’s Emporium will be open every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am until 2pm.
Original article: Stroud News and Journal
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