This year, Roots Natural Foods in Sherwood, Nottingham, celebrated its 21st birthday and in October the store marked the occasion, while at the same time raising money for charity.
Owner Ken Dyke explains: “We had a pop-up coffee bar run by the Jimma Link charity – which is a link between the Nottingham hospitals and the Jimma Hospital in Ethiopia. Each year the Jimma Hospital decides what they need help with – midwifery or hospital records or whatever – and the charity this end finds Nottingham hospital staff who are prepared to go there during their holidays to help out.”
The proceeds from the pop-up café, a grand raffle supported by the store’s suppliers, a book, CD and DVD stall, and 25% of the sale price of some products all went to the charity.
“The event got a lot of interest,” says Dyke, “and we raised £413 on the day which is enough to send someone to Ethiopia. We’re now working on ideas to raise enough to bring them back!”
Local MP Chris Leslie attended the event to cut the celebratory birthday cake.
