Church given empty shop in Birmingham city centre for good causes
Dec 3 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail
A VACANT space in the heart of Birmingham has resurrected the spirit of Christmas among money-spinning city centre stores.
City centre bosses came up with the idea of letting church leaders use an empty store in Corporation Street for free as a Christmas store.
But to give them a helping hand, other shops have donated spare shelving and mannequins to get the shop off the ground.
Believe In Birmingham, which represents the Anglican, Methodist and Catholic churches, is selling Fair Trade gifts with all profits going to city charities.
The Rev Alison Maddocks, chaplain for Birmingham centre, said: "We are thrilled to have been given this shop to convey the real meaning of Christmas.
"Christmas can become all about spend, spend, spend and no meaning, but this way shoppers know they are spending positively to help other people."
The Christmas Presence shop, opposite the former Beatties store, was opened on Saturday by Lord Mayor Randal Brew.
Cash will go to homeless charities Fireside, St Basil's and South Birmingham Young Homeless Project plus local projects for youngsters by National Children's Homes, Acorns and Leaps and Bounds.
