We want to say the BIGGEST THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to our biggest ever Christmas gift drive!
We are absolutely blown away by the generosity of our donors, both individuals and corporate partners. We’ve collected hundreds and hundreds of gifts, making this the third year in a row that we’ve broken the record for our biggest gift appeal. In total this year, we’ve received an incredible 872 gifts from 29 different business and organisations, as well as a number of individual donors.
Our neighbours at London Projects donated and decorated our Christmas trees again this year, as well as providing wine for our over 50s Christmas party.
Westminster School (pictured) were the first in with the gifts, dropping off a load of books and gift boxes of tea. Informed Solutions, who have been regularly supporting our charity over the past year, brought in boxes full of sweets, toys, and other gifts. Shaftesbury Capital and Aperture Investors brought us a range of presents, and also helped with the mammoth task of wrapping all the presents.
We got a variety of gifts from the Home Office Comms Team, who have been supporting our Christmas gift appeals for several years now, as well as a couple of other government teams who wished to remain anonymous.
Mediaplus UK Ltd and Mediaplus Connect brought in a trolley loaded with biscuit tins and food for our Community Pantry. The Conrad London St James Hotel donated a variety of presents including some delightful gift boxes of goodies for our Carers Group.
Mace Group, who are working on the major new development at 1 Victoria Street, brought together their partners and contractors at the site, delivering a fantastic £2,773 in gifts and cash for our appeal. Many thanks to Pyramid, Kone, Grants, Delta, GKR, McAuliffe, Elliott Wood, GPE, OAG, JJ Sweeney, and of course Mace for organising all of this.
McLaren Construction, Sodexo, OPLM, Knight Harwood (pictured) and Nestlé also brought us bags full of clothes, food, toys, winter warmers and toiletries.
As well as all of these businesses and organisations, we are so grateful to the individual donors and service users who kindly contributed to our gift appeal.
We must also thank the team at Tesco’s Monck Street shop, who stepped up to help at the last minute when we needed a load of bags to give out gifts at our Christmas meal for homeless people.
Here we gave a total of 55 goody bags filled with supplies to help with winter on the streets – hats, gloves, scarves, socks, cereal bars and toiletries.
We were delighted to give out toys to 39 children at our After School Club. We’re giving gifts to the 65 people attending our Young At Hearts Christmas meal for over 50s. Thanks to the amazing generosity of our donors, we can also give out party bags to everyone who attends. We’re also giving a toy, sweets and a book to every child whose family shops at our Community Pantry.
Many, many thanks once again to everyone who contributed to this year’s Christmas gift appeal. We love working together to spread some festive cheer to those who need it, and we couldn’t have done it without you! We and our service users are so grateful for all of your generous support.
To everyone celebrating, who hope you have a lovely Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you again in the new year.
