A much-loved festive tradition is returning to Sale Library this November – but this year will be its last.
The volunteer-run Charity Christmas Cards pop-up shop will open on Friday 13 November, giving local shoppers one final opportunity to buy their Christmas cards while supporting some fantastic causes.
The shop, which has become an annual fixture at Sale Library, will remain open until Saturday 28 November, during the library's usual opening hours.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the initiative, founded by Sheila Hallas MBE in 1971. Over the decades, the Christmas card shops have generated more than £6 million for charities, thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of shoppers.
What makes these pop-up shops particularly special is that 100 per cent of the money from charity card sales goes directly to the charities they support. There are no participation fees for charities and nobody is paid to run the shops. Instead, volunteers give their time each Christmas, while sales of gifts and other festive goodies help cover running costs.
It's a wonderful initiative that has supported good causes for more than half a century.
The Sale shop will once again stock Christmas cards supporting a range of local and national charities, alongside gifts, children's toys, games, chocolates and other festive treats. Shoppers will also find plenty of stocking fillers and Christmas gift ideas, making it an opportunity to tick a few things off the festive shopping list while helping charities at the same time.
Four shops will open for the final Christmas season: in Sale, Wilmslow, Macclesfield and Knutsford.
After 55 years of fundraising, it's a remarkable achievement and one worth celebrating.
So, if you're planning to send Christmas cards this year, why not pick yours up at Sale Library? It's a lovely way to support some brilliant charities, thank the volunteers for everything they've done and help give this much-loved initiative the send-off it deserves.
The Charity Christmas Cards shop will be at Sale Library, Waterside, from Friday 13 November to Saturday 28 November 2026, opening during normal library hours.
Find out more at christmas-cards.org.uk.
