A Hove charity shop has made an urgent appeal for donations after more than £5k of stock was wrecked in Monday’s floods.
The Chestnut Tree House’s store in George Street flooded in the early hours of Monday morning when hail and thunderstorms hit the city.
Shop manager Jade walked in to discover the devastation. She said: “I couldn’t believe it. I thought we might have suffered a bit, but I didn’t imagine how much damage could have been caused.
“The water flooded in from the flat roof that was overwhelmed when the heavy rains hit. Rain poured in through the ceiling, damaging the ceiling tiles, lighting, the flooring and the shop fittings below.
“The flooding was inches deep at the rear of the shop.”
Staff and volunteers at the shop have been trying to protect the remaining undamaged stock and prevent it getting damp, but at least £5,000 of donated items have been lost.
The shop will stay closed until the charity has repaired the damage and have enough new stock to sell.
Sally Brighton, Director of Retail, said: “To see our shop flooded with ceiling tiles on the floor and our donated stock ruined was devastating.
“A huge amount of effort and goodwill goes into processing the donations with much of the work carried out by loyal volunteers who are all, naturally, very upset at what has happened.
“We are doing all we can to get the shop open again as soon as possible and are truly sorry not to have been able to welcome customers and donors over the last few days.
“The loss of stock was enormous so we are really appealing to everyone to donate their unwanted goods to us to help us get back to where we were a few days ago.”
The shop needs good-quality clothing, books, toys and bric-a-brac. Staff will be at the shop from next week to receive donations, or items can donated straight away to the Brighton shop, Henfield shop or Retail Distribution Centre in Worthing.
This is one of the several thrift stories whose staff bring a vim to George Street, and I very much hope that residents will bring it new stock – and, of course, buy some.
This is one of the several thrift stories whose staff bring a vim to George Street, and I very much hope that residents will bring it new stock – and, of course, buy some.