Karen Bradley, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, met with British Heart Foundation (BHF) volunteers at the charity’s shop in Leek.
The visit was hosted by the BHF’s chief executive Simon Gillespie and retail area manager Julie Renshaw.
During the visit to the shop on Derby Street, Ms Bradley learned how donations to the shop are sorted and valued, and how the money raised is used in the community and across the UK.
Last year, over 43,000 people visited the BHF’s Leek shop. The shop is supported by 35 volunteers from the local community, many of whom have volunteered in the shop for years.
Across the UK there are more than 23,000 volunteers in BHF shops, and around 800 of them completed a National Vocational Qualification last year. The charity raised £31 million from its UK wide chain of shops helping to fund more than 1,100 medical research projects.
Karen Bradley MP said: “Heart disease is a devastating condition which affects thousands of people here in Leek and across the country.
“So it was really inspiring to meet the volunteers who are giving up their time to help raise money for heart research.
Julie Renshaw, BHF area retail manager, said: “We’re really pleased that Ms Bradley visited our shop to learn how the community’s generous donations are helping our vital work.
“Our research has already helped save thousands of lives. Every pound we help raise will be used to fund new breakthroughs to help prevent, treat and cure heart conditions.”