A SHOP in Weymouth has donated a box full of toys towards this year’s Dorset Echo Christmas appeal, in addition to offering a half-price discount on any gifts purchased in store to towards the cause.
1 Stop Beach and Gift Shack, in Bond Street, is the latest business signed up to support the appeal, which provides gifts for children who may otherwise have no presents to open at Christmas.
The business is run by Gareth Johnson and Justine Neale, a couple who set up shop in Weymouth in June after quitting their jobs and moving from Rutland having seen pictures of the town online.
“I hope the box we filled will help the children of the area have an even more special day,” said Mr Johnson.
In addition to donating gifts the couple are offering 50% off toys which are purchased in store to be put in the collection bin for the Dorset Echo campaign.
The couple decided to move to Weymouth despite never having set foot in the town to launch a new life with son Ruben and their cat Lexi.
Mr Johnson said: “We had never been to Weymouth before or done any shop work in our lives, but seven months ago we both decided we had enough of our jobs and we packed them in and chose Weymouth to move to by the pictures on the internet.
“We came down a few times to look at commercial properties (the shop) and fell in love with it and the friendly locals.”
Before moving Mr Johnson was a HGV driver for 13 years and Miss Neale worked in sales for 20 years. Their Weymouth shop sells traditional seaside staples on one floor, with a gift shop featuring a variety of work from artists in Dorset below.
The Christmas Toy Appeal raised its greatest ever amount last year of £5,432.
Any businesses wishing to make a £100 donation to the 2021 Dorset Echo toy appeal should contact maureen.jolliffe@localiq.co.uk or call 01305 830811.
Toys can be dropped off in Weymouth at Asda, Howleys, Morrisons, Tesco (in the town centre), WH Smith and Wilkinsons.
While in Dorchester the drop-off points are at Tesco, Toymaster, WH Smith and Boo’s Toyshop, Poundbury.
In Portland, collection points are at the Co-Op and Tesco, in Easton, while in Bridport the bins are located at Morrisons and Toymaster.
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