Animal shelter champs

Saints Animal charity shop at North Riding Square shopping centre provides assistance to 19 animal shelters.

In 2008, Amy Groves and Viv Elliott established Saints Animal Charity, a non-profit organisation which they ran from home.

In 2012 they opened their charity shop. “We are one of the few charity shops in South Africa that donates to animal shelters,” Elliott said.

“The shop has made R3 million for charities since it was opened.”

Groves and Elliott are dedicated to protecting and caring for animals. “I was initially going to run the charity part-time, but I soon realised that to make sure that the company is a success I need to put in the time and energy,” said Elliott. “I then left everything else to focus on this business.”

Through their persistence and hard work, they have encouraged animal lovers to donate clothes, furniture, books and other items, which are sold at the shop or online. Radio and television personality Jeremy Mansfield and his wife Jacqui have donated their cookbook Zhoozsh, to be auctioned soon.

Groves and Elliot want to expand the charity and raise more funds for needy animal welfare organisations. “We need more volunteers and one person to fill a permanent assistant manager position.”

Details: Viv Elliott 082 259 0905, vivsaints@live.com