Kingussie charity shop will become an emergency hub for tier 4 duration
Badenoch's award-winning social enterprise Caberfeidh Horizons has responded to the announcement of the oncoming tighter Covid lockdown by pledging to become an emergency base for the duration.
"Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the Scottish Government announcement on December 19, both our bookshop and charity shop on Kingussie High Street will be closed for shopping from the end of the day on Thursday, December 24 until Monday, January 18," said project manager Carolyn Cornfield.
"We will not be taking donations of books or goods from the community during this time but we are holding a pre-lockdown sale on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24, offering a 50% discount on all goods.
"The Bookshop will again become an emergency hub to support the community, working with other local groups to provide emergency food parcels, telephone helpline for members of the community at risk, distributing hand sanitizer to volunteers in the community, providing a food share table and working with the Kingussie Co-op to distribute excess fresh food and using our company vehicle to make deliveries of essential supplies.
"All the above services will be based in the Bookshop 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. A contact telephone number is also on the Bookshop door for anyone needing a food parcel outside of these times.
"I will be managing these services over the Christmas break, Helen and Sandy will join me on 5 January 2021 when they return to work.
"Our training and activities programme will finish for Christmas on Wednesday 23.
"We hope to begin again on January 18 if the Scottish Government allows it.
"All trainees have been informed and we look forward to working with them again as soon as we can in 2021.
"Our Community Hub is almost ready, understandably there have been delays due to COVID-19, and we now hope to get the keys in mid-January."
Mrs Cornfield added: "The funding application sub group of directors will be working over the holidays and beyond to access any funding that is available to help us through these difficult financial times. Our board of directors will meet as normal by zoom during the level 4 lockdown. "Our next scheduled meeting is Wednesday January 6 at 4.30 pm."
In thanking all those who had helped through a "strange and challenging year" she said: "I hope that sometime in 2021 we will be allowed to meet up for hugs and chats and celebrations."