A charity shop that closed down due to a "threat" that followed social media comments on reports of a woman sleeping in the shop doorway is reopening.
The Kindness of Strangers shop in Limavady announced its closure in two statements published on social media earlier this month. The statements referred to an incident where a woman was found "lying on the doorway" of the charity shop. They also hit out at what the shop described as "false statements on social media" about the incident.
Now, after the shop was cleared out, donations have poured in again and the shop is back in business at its premises on Linenhall Street in the centre of the Co Derry town.
Read more: Limavady charity shop shuts after "threat" following woman sleeping in doorway
In an initial statement published on social media site Facebook, the Kindness of Strangers shop in Limavady said: "In light of recent events and social media posts telling us to leave Limavady we have given our letting agent notice that we will be closing our Kindness of Strangers shop and vacating our premises at 18 Linenhall Street, Limavady."
The spokesperson continued: "We have been advised that the threat we received has come from an individual in the community and not from any group. We do not want the woman who was lying in our doorway to be treated badly because of all that has gone on, nor do we want any more drama."
Now, the Kindness of Strangers charity shop is set to reopen.
"We met with our staff and volunteers to get an understanding of recent events and to agree how best to proceed," a spokesperson said in a recent update. "In response to this we have decided that we would like to stay in Limavady (if the folk of Limavegas are happy to hold onto us).
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contacted us offering support, including those individuals and organisations behind the scenes who have guided and reassured us."
And on Monday, the shop said it had completed "day one" of its reopening plans.
"We have done a load of cleaning, sorting and assembling clothing stands. Thank you to everyone who brought in donations today. We very much appreciate it. We will keep going and hopefully if will look a little bit better."
Appealing for more donations, the shop spokesperson said: "If you are doing a clear out over the next few days, do please consider dropping stuff off at our shop at 18 Linenhall Street, Limavady."
English (United States) ·