As you can see, thanks to the generosity and hard work of local people, Mells refurbished Village Shop is rapidly taking shape with the new windows now in place. Internal building work will be finished by the end of February and the Shop is on course to open in April.
The shop's revival is a community venture, and in order to succeed, the Shop and Post Office will continue to need the goodwill and help of everyone within the Mells, Vobster and Great Elm area. If it does well in the first year, we will be able to add a café by the summer of 2010, and if it continues to flourish we should be able to sell it on as a thriving business.
What does the shop need from you?
Your financial support. Thanks to a huge communal effort, we have raised £120,000 from local people and from various grants and sponsors. But this is still £10,000 short of the sum needed to restock, refurbish, and maintain the shop for the first two years. So if you are not a member of the Village Shop co-operative please become one, for as little as £5.00. (Please phone June Costelloe on 812199/ junecostelloe@yahoo.co.uk), and encourage others to do the same.
Your voluntary help. The Shop needs as many volunteers as possible, to help behind the counter, fetch supplies, deliver sandwich rounds, clean and maintain the premises - just a few hours a week will make a great difference. We are also looking for a part-time paid assistant. Please phone 813763 to offer help or for further information.
Your ideas. If you know of good local food producers or useful suppliers or anything else that you think will improve the shop, please write your suggestions in the book in the Post Office portakabin or make a comment here on the blog.
Your custom. We also need to know your top priorities, the things you would most like to see on the new Shop counters, either in the suggestions book or on the blog.
Your goodwill. Throughout this year there will be various events and entertainments to raise further funds for the Shop. We hope you will join in and enjoy them and perhaps think up some fund-raising ventures of your own.
