Caithness Mental Health Support Group receives £5000 donation from Thurso convenience store
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A family-run convenience store in Thurso has presented £5000 to Caithness Mental Health Support Group to help its work across the county.
D&M Fraser in Castlegreen Road is part of the Nisa buying group, whose Making a Difference Locally initiative allows stores to nominate charities or good causes in their area to receive donations.
The mental health support group cheque brought the total handed over by D&M Fraser this year to £6700, following its earlier support for local schools and a nursery.
The store's Making a Difference Locally fund is built up over time through sales of selected products. Every time an item included in the scheme is purchased by a customer, a percentage of the profit is added to the pot of money which is then distributed as appropriate.
Lesley Mill, a director of D&M Fraser, explained: "There have been many local causes worthy of a donation but in 2020 our focus was on Thurso Community Development Trust and NHS carers, who helped so much during the pandemic.
"In 2021 we turned our attention to the local schools and before they closed in June we donated £500 to Thurso High School, £500 to Miller Academy primary, £500 to Pennyland primary and £200 to Playden nursery so that children could have some kind of end-of-term treat after such a turbulent year. These schools are all ones that are local to us and we regularly have children and parents in the shop.
"We then felt that attention must go towards mental health, as we are fully aware that our small community has felt more loss this year as a result of mental health than Covid itself.
"We got speaking to Chris Mackenzie of Caithness Mental Health Support Group and he explained the various initiatives ongoing in their centres in both Wick and Thurso."
Mrs Mill and store manager Scott Macdonald visited the Stepping Stones centre in Thurso to present the £5000 cheque.
"We hope this will help towards all their fantastic work," Mrs Mill added.
Mrs Mill's parents, Douglas and Margaret, established the shop more than 40 years ago. Mr and Mrs Fraser have now retired from the store but remain involved as directors.
