The Mayor of RBWM Cllr Simon Bond and his consort Mr David Armitage kindly launched our “Gift a Gift for Christmas” campaign. Danielle Welburn, Community Development Abri, Rebecca Mistry BEM, CEO The Baby Bank and Jon Davey, Community Champion Tesco pictured have teamed up with Achieving for Children, The Windsor Lions and West Windsor Hub.
We need to start collecting now as the event will take place on Friday 13th December for families who need support with gifts this Christmas. Last year, the in person event allowed parents & carers to choose gifts for over 100 children and make use of the wrapping service.
The gifts generously donated by local people go to the those children whose families are unable to provide presents due to their financial circumstances. Enabling their parents to see them smile on Christmas Day 😉
A reality most of us could not, would not want to understand.
When you are next in Tesco please donate a gift appropriate for young people 0-18 years of age. You don’t need to purchase it in store. This is about helping local people.
Thank you.
Jon Davey
Community Champion
HISTORY
The Baby Bank and Tesco launched our first campaign in 2022 tying our “Give a Toy this Christmas” Campaign with a need expressed by The Baby Bank to ensure those in real need received the gifts generously donated by our customers. We used their network of social workers and others to distribute the gifts.
This resulted in over a dozen trollies being filled and many happy young people 😉
In 2023 Danielle from Abri approached us both as there was a feeling that a number of organisations were duplicating efforts and while some children were getting multiple gifts, others were not so lucky.
Other organisations joined in and Achieving for Children designed a registration form for families and professionals to register their interest in receiving gifts.
Because gifts were needed by the end of November, customers’ heads were not on Christmas and we had fewer donations. Luckily Baby Bank had some very generous donations from branded toy companies and this resulted in over 100 children receiving 3 or 4 gifts each. An excellent result.
Windsor Lions were also able to provide vouchers for older children who could then buy what they wanted.
This year’s campaign is learning from previous years.
Feedback from last year…
What did you enjoy most about the event?
- ‘Loved the friendly people and being able to bring my son with me to choose his own toys’
- ‘I was blown away with the immense kindness i received. Thankyou for making many childrens christmas special’
- ‘The empathy and friendliness of the staff, they made me welcome and they was such lovely people and they helped me out for xmas presents for my children’
- ‘It was of nothing I was expecting at all. The staff were incredible! There was something for everyone!’
- ‘My daughter had picked out something in particular and was so happy to be able to get it at the event, the staff were so supportive and kind. What a wonderful way to support local families’
- ‘Unfortunately I didn’t get the name of the lady, but she had glasses & a ponytail, and was so so helpful and made me feel at ease’
General Feedback
- ‘Such a good event for the community in these hard times, great range of toys and gift cards, maybe a grocery gift card would be great to go towards food for families or their Christmas dinners’
- ‘A huge thank you to all the staff, it was well organised and the experience was pleasant. they helped me pick out stuff and gave me paper to help wrap my gifts and i had a hot chocolate which was lovely of them they was very kind and helpful they have made my kids xmas thank u so much’
- ‘Very well executed, exceptional! This did make me put a smile on my face. Thank you all. God bless you all that gave their time to this and making it so memorable!’
- ‘Thank you, I didn’t know anything about this type of event and was nervous beforehand. But the whole process was lovely. I really am so thankful for the help and support provided’
