How the community saved Christmas

When a local charity had their stock of donations for disadvantaged children stolen, our colleagues and local people stepped in to put things right, and save Christmas.

Just one day before donations of toys, electrical items, gadgets and gifts were due to go out to disadvantaged young people in our community, CARE (Christian Action Resource Enterprise) were devastated to find that their warehouse had been broken into and approximately £1500 worth of gifts were stolen. This meant that the charity would simply not have enough presents for the families who were due to collect the very next day.

Some of these donations were a result of our Travel's Toy Bank campaign, where colleagues and customers donated cash and gifts to the cause. So, when Grimsby Travel Branch Manager Karen Norsden heard about the issue, she got to work right away. Working with Lincolnshire Co-op Community Co-ordinator, Sophie Leaning, a social media campaign was started to raise awareness of the event and appeal for emergency donations.

And the response was amazing! The posts were shared hundreds of time with plenty of comments of support. Thanks to this last-minute campaign, the community were able to band together and replenish the stolen stock of gifts. One individual even turned up at the church with a £500 cash donation for the cause!

This community response garnered so much attention that BBC Look North popped down to meet some of our colleagues while they were volunteering, learn about the cause, and hear about our involvement.

In a statement on social media, CARE Lincs said it couldn't be anymore thankful and, thanks to the emergency donations, there were plenty of gifts to distribute to vulnerable young people in time for Christmas.