Community-focused online shop offers 'pay what you can' service to fund kind giving across Portsmouth

Aiming to help people who may not be able to afford new items currently, and to help while shops are shut, Jussy’s Lockdown Love is a community initiative where profits go to supporting generous projects around the city.

When kind-hearted healthcare support worker Justina Haddigan realised she could not work in the current crisis due to health issues, she felt helpless.

An idea was born to donate hampers of goodies to teachers working throughout lockdown, which saw Justina featured in The News’ Rays of Sunshine feature, but now she has taken her giving to the next level.

With support from pals Bev Vaughan and Amanda Perry, Justina has set up a ‘pay what you can’ online shop through Facebook to keep money rolling in to fund their charitable giving.

Justina, from Southsea, said: ‘All of a sudden, people were asking for help. Online shopping queues are massive and deliveries are taking two weeks in some cases.

‘A lot of people are quite hard up at the moment and we had all this stuff, so I came up with the idea of no price tags.

‘Let’s say to the community we’re here to help you - but at the same time let’s be kind and fair. We need to work together and help each other.’

Jussy’s Lockdown Love has a range of items including clothing and footwear, as well as offering priced high tea and hampers and weekly raffles.

Buyers can make an offer on the page and then arrange to collect from Amanda in Copnor.

People are encouraged to pay a fair and kind price for items, and even donate items of their own to keep the shop going so more money can go towards teacher boxes, donations to women’s refuges and more.

Retired nurse Bev said: ‘What’s nice about this situation is it brings out the best in so many people. Let’s harness the good that people want to do, however small that might be.’

For more, visit Jussy’s Lockdown Love on Facebook - and when they reach 300 likes they will be holding a hamper giveaway.

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