Lisa and Archies ❤️

Sadly on the 11th of December there was a terrible fire in Archie’s shop, which is located in Waterside. If you are familiar with the shop you will know that both Archie’s, very much a family run business and Lisa Giffen the owner have been the heart of a very close community for the past 12 years. Lisa has put everything into providing for the village of Waterside and surrounding areas. Throughout lockdown she made meals for people unable to leave their homes and hand delievered them as well as providing a shop service for all needs. Lisa has often also been seen battling through snow storms on foot to get essentials to anyone who needed them. She has became a real Pillar of the community often hosting litter picking, Easter duck races and had been planning a month of Santas grotto in her newly purpose built out house which was also used as a tea room for a lots of community workers as a dry and warm place to have their lunch on the go. Sadly all the presents she had purchased for the grotto as well as the whole shops contents have been ruined in the fire. Lisas daughter Brooke was working in the shop at the time of the fire and although we’re grateful she has only indured smoke inhalation it has now left both Brooke and Lisa unable to work in the shop which especially at this time of year makes it even more heartbreaking .With it being so close to Christmas it’s a hard time to loose your job and livelihood but if you are able to donate anything or offer any help to the family and the restoration of Archie’s it would be so appreciated. ❤️.