Christmas card shop supports good causes.

Byline: David Himelfield ,

Helping charities Pictured at the shop are (from left) Shirley Lynes, Valerie Ackroyd of Leukaemia research, Kirklees mayor Clr Donald Firth and shop manager Patricia McCaffrey

Help at library for more than 30 charities

A VOLUNTARY Christmas card shop has opened at Huddersfield Library to raise cash for charity.

Kirklees mayor Clr Donald Firth officially opened the Cards for Good Causes shop in the library basement.

CFGC sells Christmas cards on behalf of more than 30 UK charities, including MacMillan Cancer Support, the NSPCC and the Samaritans.

The shop, open six days a week from 10am to 4pm, will also gather cash for local guest charities - at present Kirkwood Hospice and Candlelighters, a children's cancer fund.

Last year the shop raised a considerable sum.

Shop manager Patricia McCaffrey said: "It's a great feeling to be involved. They give 81p in every pound to charity. No one can match that.

"We've had so many volunteers it's hard to accommodate them all."

Carlton Mellor, 69, from Holmfirth, sells cards at the voluntary shop at the library every Wednesday.

Mr Mellor, who has been involved with CFGC for four years, said: "We're hoping to raise more than last year.

"It's very rewarding to involved. It's a worthwhile cause."

CFGC manages around 350 temporary Christmas card shops in churches, libraries, community centres, tourist information centres and museums.

For each pound raised 81p will go to charity.

The remaining 19p covers production and distribution costs.

Last year more than 300 charities shared pounds 5m from CFGC.

For more information or to order cards go to www.cardsforcharity. co.uk on the internet.

The shop at Huddersfield Library runs for nine weeks.