On Saturday 8 August, Clwyd South MP, Simon Baynes MP, made a socially distanced visit to Chirk Spar to meet with staff and learn more about how the store has supported residents in Chirk and the wider community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chirk Spar has seen a busy during lockdown with a 50% increase in business driven by people staying local when shopping and arranging home deliveries. During lockdown, Chirk Spar also went out of its way to help its customers, particularly vulnerable residents locally who were shielding. This help has continued since the end of lockdown with free home deliveries continuing and assistance with shopping where required when customers arrive at the shop.
At the weekend, Simon Baynes MP met the Store Manager, Matt Lee, and staff members including Cassandra Windsor, Libby Jones and Ali Owens from Chirk Spar and spoke to them about their community engagement work, including free home deliveries and sponsorship for local events and organisations such as the Chirk Christmas Lights and the town fireworks, Chirk Football Club and Chirk Court Care Home. Staff also fundraise themselves – for instance, Manager, Matt Lee recently completed a 300km charity bike ride for the NSPCC.
Mr Baynes was also joined on the visit by Chirk South County Councillor, Terry Evans and Chirk Town Councillor, Gareth Baines.
Matt Lee said:
“None of this would have been possible without the commitment and dedication of Chirk Spar’s staff who have always shown long-term loyalty to the business and its customers. We’re incredibly grateful to the community in Chirk who support us and in turn, we’re incredibly proud to be able to give something back and offer support to vulnerable residents and local clubs and organisation when times are tough.”
Simon Baynes MP said:
“The whole team at Chirk Spar have been vital in supporting local residents through this crisis. I’m incredibly grateful to Matt and all his team at Chirk Spar who have gone above and beyond to look out for customers old and new at this difficult time. Their hard work and efforts have made a big difference to the lives of local people in Chirk and nearby.”