Petrus People Community Store celebrates first birthday

Imam Irfan Chishti, Chairwoman of Petrus, Lynda Robinson, Bishop of Manchester, David Walker

To celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the Petrus Community Store on Hamer Lane, Rochdale, the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Dr David Walker and Rochdale Imam Irfan Chishti joined dozens of supporters of Petrus to celebrate and jointly cut a birthday cake complete with an Advent Candle yesterday (Monday 24 November).

Attendees included the Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Farnell, local councillors, clergy and members of the Rotary Club of Rochdale

Petrus Co-ordinator Denis Skelton said: “We are delighted that the Bishop of Manchester and Imam Irfan Chishti agreed to officiate at this event and we appreciate the support. We are also very pleased that so many people turned up to show their support, without which we would not be able to continue to provide the much needed local services for homeless people.”

The aims of the Petrus Community Store are to generate funds for the provision of frontline services and goods for homeless people, provide affordable household goods and clothes, offer volunteer and training opportunities and recycle reusable goods which could otherwise be tipped.

Bishop David Wright said: “The Petrus Community is an excellent local organisation which serves the communities of Rochdale well by providing a range of services for people in need. The Petrus Community Store is a fine example of a local provision which helps support the important work of Petrus centres for the homeless whilst providing a good service to the local community as a whole and which has involved the community evidenced by the volunteer’s supporters, donors and customers.”

Imam Irfan Chishti, on behalf of Rochdale Council of Mosques, also welcomed and supported the work of the Petrus Community within the community and urged local people to support its work.

Claire Jefferies, Petrus Community Store Manager, said: “We rely on volunteers to help with a whole range of activities both at the Petrus Community Store and at the Petrus Community projects. In particular the Rochdale Rotarians have provided constant support in a variety of ways for over a year now. They have undertaken a huge array of practical work around the building to ensure we could open the store on time and they continue to provide volunteers every week to do a range of duties.

“Due to the success of the Community Store in building a good customer base there is an urgent need of donations particularly at the moment of reusable furniture. In particular we need beds and bedroom furniture, lounge and dining furniture, and basic kitchen appliances.”