Charity shop returns £1,000 found in donated boots

A Hospiscare charity shop manager saved Christmas for a Topsham family after finding nearly £1,000 in notes stuffed in a donated pair of men’s boots.

The £980 was still in wads with bands around them after an elderly man had collected them from the bank to give to his family at Christmas.

He stored the money in the boots then forgot and donated them to the local Topsham Hospiscare shop.

Jackie Hulin, shop manager said: “A gentleman brought in two bags, one of clothes and another with boots and he gift aided them. 

"I put them to one side and it was only when I was about to leave the shop to lock up that I noticed a £20 note sticking out of a boot. I had a closer look and counted £980 and fortunately because of his gift aid details I could phone him immediately.

“He always gives his family money every Christmas and he knew he had lost the gift cards which he had intended to put the money in, but had not realised the cash was missing. 

"He was rather embarrassed and so grateful to get the money back that he gave Hospiscare £100. It was fortunate he had gift aided his donation otherwise we would have struggled to trace him.”