Kind-hearted builder brings ray of hope to charity targeted by thieves

GENEROUS builder Michael Woods has brought fresh hope to a charity blighted by thieves after donating a huge pile of goods to help it get back on its feet.

The big-hearted Clanfield resident was dismayed after reading in The News a container behind Sue 
Ryder in Cowplain full of donations ready to be sold was burgled.

So Michael – who clears houses where people have died and sell their belongings – decided not to make cash on clothes he collected from a property and instead took it to Sue Ryder to bolster its stock and boost its cause.

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Shop workers have thanked Michael for his generosity – and decided they will redistribute everything he has given to smaller Sue Ryders which need a bit more help.

Michael, owner of 
Woods Row Builders & Clearance, said: ‘I had all of this packed, and normally I would sell it.

‘But then I thought, Sue Ryder could do with it.

‘It didn’t matter what charity it was, I would have done this no matter who it was. I give stuff to the Rowans as well.

‘I would have had to have gone through and sorted it all out myself; even though I knew 80 per cent of it was virtually brand new.

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‘I thought if they had nothing in the shop, then hopefully they could make good money from this.

‘I’m a big supporter of local charities.’

The stolen donations were thought to have been worth hundreds of pounds, with enough stock to fill half of the shop, which was not broken into.

Michael added: ‘What happened was disgusting.’

Grateful Cowplain Sue Ryder shop manager Trish Bell said many others had been donating extra stock in an attempt to help after the incident.

She said: ‘I am absolutely overwhelmed by people’s generosity, and their care.

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‘We have seen an influx of donations, and it’s because of the article in the paper.

‘Quite a lot of people are shocked and upset that this happened to their local charity shop and to a charity in general.

‘With regards to Michael’s items, because the shop is full, it will go in a container, which has a high security lock on it, and that will be re-distributed into other shops, so the whole charity will benefit.’

Anyone with information about the burglary, which happened between 5pm on Monday and 8.45am on 
Tuesday, should call police on 101 quoting 44170067158.