Larne Barnardo’s store bakes up a storm to raise £200

A local Barnardo’s store is celebrating after the sweet treats from its Valentine’s Vintage coffee morning raised over £200.
L-R:Barnardos Linn Rd volunteer Clare Murphy with her mother Celine Murphy who did all the home baking for the Valentine's Vintage coffee morning. INLT-08-704-conL-R:Barnardos Linn Rd volunteer Clare Murphy with her mother Celine Murphy who did all the home baking for the Valentine's Vintage coffee morning. INLT-08-704-con
L-R:Barnardos Linn Rd volunteer Clare Murphy with her mother Celine Murphy who did all the home baking for the Valentine's Vintage coffee morning. INLT-08-704-con

The Linn Road store also enjoyed double the normal sales during the event, thanks to the dedication of local volunteers.

Sales assistant Mary Wills told The Times: “The baked goods were all baked by Celine Murphy, who is an amateur baker.

“Twice a year she does coffee mornings in aid of charities and this year she did it for us.

Enjoying the Valentines Vintage coffee morning are L-R: Clare Murphy, Celine Murphy,Tanya Tweed, Doreen Andrews, Mary Wills, Fiona Craig& Karl Joyce.Enjoying the Valentines Vintage coffee morning are L-R: Clare Murphy, Celine Murphy,Tanya Tweed, Doreen Andrews, Mary Wills, Fiona Craig& Karl Joyce.
Enjoying the Valentines Vintage coffee morning are L-R: Clare Murphy, Celine Murphy,Tanya Tweed, Doreen Andrews, Mary Wills, Fiona Craig& Karl Joyce.

“Her daughter Clare, who is a Larne Grammar School pupil, has been volunteering with us on Saturdays as well for over a year.”

In addition to providing a treat for regular customers, Mary says that the event helped to showcase the store to new clients.

She continued: “We have a lot of regular customers who come in week in week out, and many brought a friend or family member with them so they introduced new customers, which was great.

People said they had heard about our store and that it had great stock but they didn’t know where it was, so events like this help show people where it is.”

Mary says the store staff were particularly pleased to raise such a large amount due to the fact that donations were discretionary.

She concluded: “I would like to thank Celine and Clare and the staff who came in. It was a combined effort.

“I would also like to thank all the customers for supporting us. It’s exciting as the event was even more successful than we expected.”

The store is located at 10 Linn Road, Larne. Tel: 028 2826 7991

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