200 brand new dresses donated to Broughty Ferry charity shop

They're worth hundreds of pounds.

Published 2nd Dec 2016

Almost 200 brand new dresses worth hundreds of pounds have been donated to a Dundee charity shop.

Donated by a Broughty Ferry bridal shop, the gowns, all bridesmaid dresses but also ideal for glitzy dinner dances and parties, are all unworn and with original labels attached.

The dresses, some of which originally cost more than £200, were handed in to St Margaret of Scotland Hospice shop on the top floor of Wellgate, after Manager Paul Smith completed one of his weekly drives around the city earlier this year, distributing leaflets asking for donations.

Priced £25 each, around 100 of the total number donated remain available for sale.

Manager Paul Smith said, “We are absolutely delighted at this donation which is a total one-off, especially for a small independent charity like ourselves. We are grateful for every item and carrier bag which we receive but this is an extra special boost, especially on the run-up to Christmas. It’s a win-win situation, we boost our funds considerably and the customers get a brand new dress at a bargain price!”

Although located in Clydebank, St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, the oldest and largest hospice in Scotland, welcomes people from all over Scotland and Paul routinely receives donations from local people whose family members have spent time there.

Since its doors opened in 1950, the hospice has touched the lives of thousands of patients with advanced life-limiting illness and older people with complex medical and nursing needs, their families and friends.

Paul continued, “We have many customers who want to give back to the hospice, where perhaps their mum or dad have spent time.

"In fact, we were the first St Margaret of Scotland Hospice shop to open outwith the Glasgow area so they really took a chance on us. However, eight years on, we’ve been so busy and the Dundee people really have taken us to their hearts. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to the donors of these dresses, and to everyone else who has handed goods in within the last year.”