STAFF at a Grimsby shop showed how much they "Care" for the local community by organising a charity fun day.
H&T Pawnbrokers, in Victoria Street, hosted the Easter-themed event on Saturday in aid of Christian Action Resource Enterprise (Care), in Hainton Avenue.
Manager Carrie-Anne Boylen Smith and deputy manager Adam Blow cycled on an exercise bike non-stop for six hours during the event.
There were also free balloons and chocolate treats, face painting by Laura Parkin and a raffle with prizes donated by Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Novelty Cakes.
Carrie-Anne said: "Care is a great local charity which helps families in need.
"We decided to select it as our charity for the year and this is first of a number of fun days we will be holding to raise money.
"We understand that times are tight for people so we haven't set ourselves a fundraising target, we just want to raise as much as possible."
Adam Blow, 33, from Grimsby, is the deputy manager at the shop.
He said: "Care is a really good cause because it helps local people in need.
"Cycling on an exercise bike from 10am to 4pm seemed like a good idea because it's something a bit different.
"I'm getting married in June and I'm hoping the exercise will help me to lose a few pounds ready for the big day!"
Sarah Taylor, who is general manager at Care, said the charity helps local people facing poverty, hardship and distress.
This includes running parenting courses, offering housing advice and running the food larder, which the Grimsby Telegraph is backing via the Ten Tonnes Of Tins campaign.
Sarah said: "Since we started working with the Telegraph, people have been incredibly generous and taken a real interest in us. We're very grateful to the shop for organising this fun day for us."
Sarah's daughter, Megan, 8, added: "I've been giving out balloons and collecting money.
"It's important to help people who are less fortunate."FURNITURE FREE OF CHARGE The CARE Shop is located on Alexandra Road, in Cleethorpes, and provides furniture free of charge to those in the North East Lincolnshire area who are in need. Over £250,000 has been donated since the shop was started in 1992 to families or single people in financial hardship. CARE Shop exists to provide furniture free of charge to those who are not able to access help via the normal channels and have exhausted the benefit system, including the social fund. Stock is donated from North East Lincolnshire residents, mainly from newspaper advertisements, and either sold through the shop to raise funds to cover overheads or donated to those in need. All manner of beds, tables and chairs, three piece suites, wardrobes, pots and pans and clothing can be accessed at the CARE Shop, and subject to satisfactory application and interview will be donated free of charge. A loyal team of staff and volunteers can often arrange delivery within 24 hours, and hundreds of families and single people from all parts of the NE Lincs community have been given a 'kick start' through the services of the CARE Shop. With the good will of the local community CARE has been given over £1.2-million of goods with over £250,000 of second hand value furniture being given away to local families, since the shop was opened in 1992. With it's excellent double frontage it continues to be an access point for disadvantaged and vulnerable people to approach the charity for help, with over 400 applications each year. Call 01472 232312.
