A significant step towards community support has been taken with a £125,000 donation aimed at aiding charity partners in hosting festive events nationwide.
The substantial donation will provide critical financial support to charity partners, enabling them to acquire food and necessary supplies. This initiative comes as a response to 91% of charities within the Toy Bank network expressing a need for financial assistance to organise festive events. Furthermore, 85% of these charities are planning special gatherings for communities that might struggle to celebrate Christmas otherwise.
In addition to the financial grants, the nationwide in-store Toy Bank is making a return this year, urging the public to donate toys for children in need during the festive period. This response aligns with the charity partners’ call, with 97% requiring toys for distribution this season. An ambitious goal has been set to donate over 100,000 toys, thus extending the reach to more children than ever before.
Starting 1 November, customers are encouraged to drop off new, unopened toys, games, books, puzzles, and arts and crafts at any store across the country. These items will then be distributed locally to children across various ages through the established partner charity network.
The Chief Executive Officer has emphasised the role of community support in their operations, stating, “Supporting local communities is at the heart of what we do. Together, with our customers, we’re following the festive tradition of helping others through our Toy Bank and festive grants.” The Chief Executive Officer expressed pride in delivering essential assistance to charity partners, using the help of generous customers to bring joy to thousands of children during Christmas. This partnership with Neighbourly has further enabled the company to provide food and resources to those most in need.
Neighbourly’s CEO, Steve Butterworth, expressed his delight in partnering again on this initiative, highlighting the positive feedback from local charities about the joy the toy bank has brought to families. He noted, “Every gift of any size donated to the Toy Bank will be greatly received,” underlining the impact of even small contributions on community welfare.
Beyond the festive season, efforts to encourage more local charities to register for ongoing support continue. This includes participation in the food donation programme set for 2025. Since its inception in 2017, the programme has facilitated the donation of the equivalent of 26.5 million meals, marking a significant achievement in their ongoing commitment to aid those in need.
This charitable initiative marks a crucial effort towards enhancing community welfare and supporting those in need during the festive season and beyond.
