Colleagues Go Above and Beyond for Ukraine Appeals

March 18, 2022

A.F. Blakemore’s colleagues and retailers have been supporting numerous appeals to help Ukrainian people in the first two weeks of March.

Colleagues were invited to get together with their teams on Friday 11th or 18th March and wear yellow and blue to fundraise for the British Red Cross. Last week’s fundraising has already exceeded £13,700, with a lot more money expected to come in next week.  

Blakemore Retail has rolled out collection buckets to all of its stores, with Red Cross volunteers having a collection drive at some sites from 17th to 19th March. Some stores are also organising collections of goods for people in need. 

The Blakemore Foundation has seen a flurry of activity from local charities asking for donations for appeals. In just two weeks the charitable trust has made 68 monetary and stock donations worth more than £5,200 to good causes in local communities that are looking to support the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine. The amount donated is going up all the time.

A.F. Blakemore is also supporting SPAR partners in Ukraine and Poland with goods and financial aid so that stores can keep their doors open. 

A few colleagues across the business are personally going above and beyond to support the cause.

Store Manager Kris Harrison from Blakemore Retail’s Hardy’s Road store in Cleethorpes will be flying over to the Ukraine border himself to volunteer his support there for up to five days and help deliver essential items.

He has been fundraising individually and also collecting donations of goods most in need at his store, along with other stores in his area. 

Kris commented: “Since we started collecting for this cause in-store over a week ago, we have had overwhelming support from the local community. 

“We have raised £550 and have a cage full of stock that has been purchased in-store and donated.

“The effort we have put into this has provided a real boost for the reputation of our store within our community.” 

The Blakemore Foundation has also supported Kris’s charitable efforts with a monetary and stock donation. 

Community Affairs Officer Kate Senter commented: “Colleagues have raised a fantastic amount for causes supporting Ukraine in a very short space of time, and there is no sign of demand for donations from the Blakemore Foundation slowing down.

“Thank you to everyone who has fundraised, donated or collected for the cause – your response has been incredible and will make a real difference to those most in need.” 
 

Fundraising cake sales and goods donations at SPAR Hardys Road 

What can you and your team do?

There’s still time to donate to A.F. Blakemore’s fundraising appeal: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/afb-ukraine-appeal

If you want to host a bake sale or quiz within your department, the Blakemore Foundation can offer match funding. Don’t forget to submit photos to SM-Community@afblakemore.co.uk.

You might also be able to volunteer your time to help local charities process donations for the cause. If you do, please don’t forget to log your hours through this link: 
https://forms.office.com/r/AQJectgnQ2

If you or your team want to get together to collect items, this is best done locally. You can find local collection points through charities.

It is recommended that you line up a charity to pick up your donation first and that you align the product you are collecting with what they need. Please only do this with line manager approval. 

Pictured at top of page: 
A goods collection at SPAR Laceby Lodge

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