Co-op elves swap shelves for special mission

Co-operative elves in Romsey and Southampton have made it their mission to make it a special Christmas for as many children as possible.

A £500 donation, £500 worth of gifts, collection points, volunteering in the warehouse, collecting up donations and supplying essential tea, coffee and biscuits for the volunteers – these are just a few things Southern Co-op colleagues are doing for this year's Mission Christmas appeal.

Less than a fortnight into Wave 105's Mission Christmas 2021 appeal, they had received applications for gifts for more than 17,500 children across the south. The mission is part of a huge Cash For Kids gift appeal which is set to help 220,000 youngsters across the UK – the equivalent of nearly £10m-worth of toys.

The aim is to make sure no child goes without a present under the tree on Christmas Day.

"We are really grateful to all 14 Southern Co-op stores as they have really pulled out all the stops to help our Mission Christmas appeal," said Sam Tanner, Charity Manager for Wave 105 Cash For Kids.

"They donated treats and drinks for all our volunteers and are volunteering in the warehouse on Tuesday 14th December.

"Special thanks to Holbury store manager, Will Baddick, for inspiring the other managers and collecting all the donated gifts and delivering them. This really is a community effort to support local children who would have nothing to open on Christmas Day."

Collection points for Mission Christmas are available until Thursday 16th December at The Co-operative Food stores in Holbury in Long Lane, Lyndhurst in High Street, Milford on Sea in High Street, North Baddesley in Seymour Parade, Romsey in Abbotswood Common Road, Romsey in Botley Road, Romsey in The Hundred, Romsey in Warren Gardens, Romsey in Winchester Hill, Southampton in Archers Road, Southampton in City Gateway, Southampton in Commercial Road, Southampton in High Street, and West End in the High Street.

The colleagues at these stores are supporting Mission Christmas as part of Southern Co-op's Love Your Neighbourhood programme which aims to create greener, healthier, safer and more inclusive communities.

Daniel Haynes​, Area Manager at Southern Co-op, said: "I couldn't be prouder of my teams for working so hard to make this a special Christmas for as many children and teenagers as possible.

"This isn't the first year we have been involved but it is the first year where it has been such a team effort. We'd also like to say a massive thank you to all of our customers who have made a donation. Every present will make a difference."

To find out more, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/love-your-neighbourhood/.

Or for more information on Mission Christmas, visit www.wave105.com/mission.