It will open to the general public from today until Saturday.
A midlands Zero Cost shop for Ukranian Refugees will close its doors this weekend.
The Portlaoise store opened in April for those fleeing the war, and was stocked with donated items but is closing as there has been a decline in the numbers seeking assitance.
It will open to the general public from today until Saturday.
Chairperson of Laois Integration Network, Karen McHugh says they will be asking people to make a donation:
The zero-cost shop is located at the Old XtraVision shop on Bull Lane (right around the corner from Mulhall’s Supervalu) in Portlaoise town.
Laois Integration Network committee want to acknowledge the help of many who have helped with their work in welcoming Ukrainian refugees to Laois. These include:
- Ger Mulhall, from Supervalu, for donating one of his buildings to enable us to open the shop
- All those who volunteered in the shop
- Local Laois Community for their food, clothes and monetary donations.
- Community Gardai in Portlaoise for transport and support
- Portlaoise Party Supplies for providing complimentary balloons at the official launch
- SOSAD for being able to store donations in their premises before moving to the old Xtra Vision shop.
- Shaws, Penneys and Carraig Donn clothing shops in Portlaoise for donating clothes rails
- Portlaoise Parish Centre and Sparrow Insurances for covering the insurance costs.
- The Rainbow Castle Créche, Esker Hills Portlaoise for collection and storage of items
- Portlaoise WOSP, Polish Language School and Portlaoise and POLaois Community (Polish community group)
- The Mens Shed for making and delivering tables for the shop
- The Lions Club for donation of vouchers for new arrivals
- Race Right Cycles for the work in checking and repairing donated bikes
- Halfords for carrying out safety check on donated bikes
- Martleys for supporting with outing and school trips
- Browns Fruit & Veg Shop for accepting donations when shop was closed and the friendships developed
- PR Designs for designing our shop logo for free
- Laois Partnership for their ongoing presence at the shop to translate, interpret, advise and signposts to services and their ongoing efforts to aid the families to integrate with Laois' community.
- Laois County Council for ongoing support of LIN and the Zero Cost Shop
- Laois Volunteer Centre for support with volunteer recruitment and ongoing support
- The entire Laois Ukrainian Inter Agency Forum for their support and coordinated response to support Ukrainians who now call Laois home
- Youth Work Laois members for their help with setting up the shop
The Zero-Cost Shop is now open to the public during the following times until Saturday 30th July:
Wednesdays from 4.00-6.00pm
Saturdays from 12.00-4.00pm
Donations can be made directly to Laois Integration Network Credit Union account.
Account Name:
Laois Integration Network; IBAN: IE62POCO99211710968699 BIC: POCOIE21
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