Boost for good causes as outlet reopens

Three local causes have together gained £1,000 in extra funds after receiving donations at the official opening of a food store and filling station.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s redeveloped Whaplode Food Store and Filling Station now offers a much wider range of goods from a larger shop and refreshed forecourt after a £1.6 million transformation.

Colleagues from the Society including Vice President Reverend Barbara Hutchinson, Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter and the store team were joined by local councillors and representatives to unveil the outlet’s new look on Thursday 28th February.

As part of the celebrations £500 was presented to Whaplode Village Hall, and another £500 was split between St Mary’s Church in Whaplode and All Saints Church in Moulton.

Whaplode Village Hall Treasurer Lee Morris said: “At the moment we have a slight leak in the roof which has to be paid for, and we need some new fire doors and chairs.

“All this has to be raised from the hall’s own funds, which we get from hiring it out, private lets and of course donations just like this.”

Vicar at St Mary’s Church in Whaplode and All Saints Church in Moulton Reverend Gareth Atha said: “We get absolutely no central funding from government and there’s no funding from charitable organisations unless we apply for it normally, so we are entirely dependent on donations.

“When we get something like this it’s a huge help. It enables us to cover some of the running costs, enhance what we do and enhance worship, and it really helps us provide a service to the local community.”

A further £500 is also being donated to the Moulton and Whaplode Scouts Group, making £1,500 donated to local causes in total as part of the outlet's reopening.

Whaplode Food Store and Filling Station shut in April 2018 to allow the site’s old kiosk to be demolished and replaced with the new, larger store.

It’s doubled the number of product lines and made space for extra facilities including takeaway Costa Coffee and hot food-to-go. Eight new colleagues were also recruited to join the existing team as a result.

The forecourt has also been smartened up with new fuel pumps and a fresh canopy.