Giant Miss Piggy statue helps raise smiles and cash at charity shop’s birthday bash
A six foot tall papier mâché model of Muppets favourite Miss Piggy has become a temporary Motherwell landmark after being loaned out to mark the first birthday of a local charity shop.
The staff and volunteers at the Shelter Scotland shop had much to celebrate after a busy 12 months selling donations of furniture and fashion.
A party was thrown to mark the occasion, with a customer donating a house-shaped cake and another local supporter lending the giant Miss Piggy model as a photo prop.
Hayley Percival, Shelter Scotland Motherwell Shop Manager, said:
“We have been overwhelmed with the support of local people throughout the year and at our first birthday party. Miss Piggy has attracted extra shoppers and helped us to raise even more money to help people who are homeless or in bad housing. We took £900 in sales on the day and more than £300 in donations, raffle and tombola sales to mark our birthday.”
Hayley added:
“We have calls every day with people asking us to collect furniture they no longer need. Demand to buy the furniture and clothes is also high, especially when we promote items on local buy and sell pages. We have had some good quality 1950s items that we have sold at auction to ensure we raise as much as possible from the generosity of our donors.”
The shop in Brandon Place South is a one-of-a-kind for Shelter Scotland, being the only one to sell furniture as well as fashion. With larger than usual premises, it also has a space where people can seek advice regarding housing issues. The shop’s staff and volunteers have also been collecting starter-packs for people entering a new tenancy without the basics and have ensured that 18 families have been able to start their new lives with the essentials.
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said:
“Shelter Scotland works to help anyone with housing difficulties, whether they’re homeless, facing homelessness, struggling to pay their rent or mortgage or living in bad housing. Last year, our free national helpline received almost 17,000 calls. The helpline is funded entirely by the charity’s donations from the public, including funds raised from our charity’s shops. I want to thank the people of Lanarkshire for supporting our newest shop and congratulate Hayley and her team on a successful first year.”
Pictured: Miss Piggy with Natalia Dobrowska and Carol Cullen.