Over 240 gifts donated in support of toy appeal as Co-op Christmas lorry stops off in Norfolk
Posted by james brindle | Published: 29/11/2021
Dozens of people flocked to see the Co-op Christmas lorry in Norfolk and drop off presents for local youngsters as part of a special festive toy appeal.
The lorry stopped off at the Reepham Central England Co-op store, as part of a special event designed to collect in as many presents and stocking fillers as possible from customers and members.
The Station Road store is working locally with the Reepham Christmas Stockings initiative who will receive the gifts and ensure they are distributed to those most deserving in the community.
Over 240 presents in total were donated as part of the collection event, while locals were able to get into the Christmas spirit with seasonal music and mince pies and colleagues dressed in suitably Christmassy attire.
Brad Tuckfield, Reepham Store Manager, said: “We had an amazing response to the special collection event and the Co-op Christmas lorry with over 240 items in total handed over.
“But if you did not manage to visit during the event you can still donate an item to the appeal right until December 3 at special donation points in all Central England Co-op stores, including here at Reepham.”
Items that can be donated have to be new, unwrapped and can include puzzles, games, soft toys, outdoor toys, books, dolls/figures, CDs/DVDs and art materials.
More details about Christmas at Central England Co-op can be found here: https://www.centralengland.coop/discover
Notes to editors
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK with interests in food, funeral, floral and property investment.
Owned by hundreds of thousands of members, its over 7,800 colleagues serve customers across 400 plus trading sites in 16 counties in the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Its purpose is to inspire communities to create a sustainable Society for all.
It actively campaigns for the Government to increase sentencing for violent attacks on retail workers and works with FareShare Midlands and hundreds of food banks, generating enough food donations to create over 2.1 million meals for people in need.
The Society embraces inclusivity and equality and is a signed-up member to the Business in the Community (BITC) Race at Work Charter, while it is also fully committed to addressing the impact of climate change and is on track to be Carbon Neutral by 2030.
It invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities through its Community Dividend Fund scheme which has seen over £175,000 shared out between 116 good causes over the past 12 months.
Central England Co-op was named Leading Co-op of the Year by Co-operatives UK in 2021.
Press office contacts: Rob Smyth and James Brindle
Phone - 01543 421390
Email - publicrelations@centralengland.coop