Chloe’s tuck shop helps Hospice

Chloe’s tuck shop helps Hospice

6 September 2017

A YOUNG Killinchy girl who set up shop on her driveway has raised nearly £1,000 for the Northern Ireland Hospice.

Chloe McMullan’s tuck box stall started in July as a bit of respite for the cyclists who go past her house, along with the water tap and air pump that her dad Kenny put out.

But Kenny thought it would also be a great chance to learn about helping charities — as well as a little bit about the business world.

Dad Kenny regularly raises money for charity and, impressed with the work of the hospice, suggested 11 year-old Chloe look into doing what she could do to help.

“My daughter now knows quite a bit about what the hospice does and I have heard her explain it to people,” he said.

“I wanted the tuck shop to be a bit of fun for her as well as educational. I started her off with with £25 of stock and then she had to replenish. She would have to count everything up in the evenings.

“At the start it was a lot of cyclists and walkers stopping by. It’s proving to be very successful now. We’re quite close to the shore and we have had tourists, including a Canadian couple and a group of Chinese tourists.”

With the growing success of the tuck shop, companies such as Coca-Cola, Tayto and Johnson’s in Lisburn heard about Chloe’s mission and donated goods so more money can make its way to charity. An honesty box is also on site for when Chloe or her family isn’t around.

“We now have bananas and coffee too as the cyclists like bananas,” said Kenny. “I have heard them say, ‘Let’s stop at Chloe’s’.”

Explaining why they had chosen to support the Northern Ireland Hospice, Kenny said: “I have been giving money to the hospice for quite a long time. It has not been needed in the family, it’s just a charity I like. I like what they do. 

“The Northern Ireland Hospice looks after children and adults. My feeling is that everyone likes to give to the children’s charities and sometimes forget about the adults. People still put their hands in their pocket for the adult charities but maybe not quite as much.”

Chloe is starting Down High School this week so is currently planning a schedule change for her tuck shop venture.

Keep up to date with Chloe’s plans on the ‘Chloe’s Pop Up Tuck Shop’ page on Facebook.