| Many shops are holding special events and inviting local residents to come along to help them reach their target. Actor Ricky Tomlinson (The Royle Family) will be helping out behind the till at the Red Cross shop in Breck Road, Merseyside, on the morning of Friday 5 December.
Model Jade Parfitt will open the designer sale taking place at the Kensington and Chelsea shop from 4 to 9pm on Thursday 27 November. Shoppers will have the chance to pick up great pieces – including a Chanel suit and Jimmy Choo evening boots – at bargain prices. A similar sale last year raised £20,000.
Other events include a personal shopper day at the Fareham shop, live mannequins at the Oxford shop, and raffles. Last year shops raised £1.16 million during the fortnight – with the profit going towards vital Red Cross work helping vulnerable people in the UK and abroad.
Christmas gifts
"The £1 million fortnight is the highlight of the retail calendar. Our shop managers run fantastic events and pull out all the stops to break previous records,” Paul Thompson, general manager – retail, said. “It would be fantastic if people across the country made sure they visited their local Red Cross shop and picked up a bargain before Christmas.”
This year Red Cross charity shops are selling a wide range of new items that would make great Christmas presents – including jewellery boxes, candles and vases – while selected shops have a range of new handbags and jewellery. The shops also stock a wide range of charity Christmas cards, including a series of bilingual Welsh/English cards.
Donations
Red Cross shops are a vital source of funds to continue the charity’s essential work. More than 330 charity shops across the UK rely on donations from members of the public to raise these valuable funds.
Shops can convert clothing, discarded gifts, household items, books and DVDs into income for the charity, so if you’re clearing out your cupboards, why not give your old stuff a new lease of life by donating to your local Red Cross shop and help them beat their £1 million target.
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More about the Red Cross’ work | 
