Two Mayo charity shop winners in SVP national competition

TWO Vincent’s charity shops in Mayo have won awards in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) national retail competition.

Vincent’s Ballina won the best window display competition in the west region (Mayo, Galway and Roscommon).

The window competition was held in May this year around the theme of ‘Creating a Sustainable Environment’.

The second award went to Breege Heneghan, a volunteer with Vincent’s Claremorris, who won Volunteer of the Year in the region.

Breege has been a volunteer for nine years. The nomination said of her work: “She is such an amazing woman who always puts others first, and has given her life to make sure she does all that she can to help everyone, through her love of everything that St. Vincent de Paul stands for.”

The awards presentation followed a one-day conference in Derry which discussed how retail can be community based, help reduce poverty and operate in a real sustainable manner.

There are over 234 SVP shops throughout Ireland, trading under the Vincent's name. Vincent’s shops are a hugely important aspect of the service SVP provides to those who seek its assistance. Not only do the shops provide goods at affordable prices and help reconnect people, disconnected by poverty, they also provide an income source for the society, which is directed back into the local communities.

Vincent’s are also committed to the concept of reduce, reuse and tecycle.by recycling 97% of donated items.

Said Dermot McGilloway, SVP national retail development manager: “This conference provided the opportunity for the volunteers and staff throughout our network to reflect on the importance of Vincent’s in our communities by providing a great customer service ethic which also generate financial support to their local conferences, and at the same time taking visible action on sustainability.

“We believe that we have taken a lead role in our sector in meaningfully promoting the circular economy and are committed to tackling the twin problems of social deprivation on the one hand and the environmental damage caused by the excessive consumption of fast fashion on the other.”