A REDDITCH charity which helps the homeless and hard-up families has been left devastated after the weekend snowfall damaged almost all of its stock.
Boomerang, based in Hewell Road, passes on quality furniture, goods and appliances for nothing or at discount rates to struggling families or those moving into their first homes.
Among the items they have are beds, wardrobes, chest of drawers and electrical items.
Manager Pauline Thorne told The Standard: “We couldn’t believe what we found on Friday. We were absolutely horrified. The snow had come through the roof and wrecked everything.”
The charity has no paid staff, every member of the team is a volunteer.
“We don’t have any paid area managers or company cars, everything we have is put into those who need it.”
The organisation, which has to pay £1,500 rent per month plus bills to keep the services it offers operational, is currently looking at the extent of the damage. Assessors were due to visit the premises as The Standard went to press yesterday.
The charity is hoping to sell off cheaply anything that can be salvaged to raise revenue.
It is feared, however, most of the electrical goods will be so badly damaged they will be unfit for purpose and have to be dumped.
“As well as replenishing the stock we had, we are charged £100 every time we take a load to the council tip and at the moment these are funds we simply cannot afford.”
Pauline is hoping the community will help the organisation get back on its feet so it can help others as it has done for more than a decade in the town.
Anyone who can help should go to the Hewell Road premises or call Pauline on 01527 68250.
