Colleagues Support More Than a Thousand Good Causes this Christmas

December 23, 2020

A.F. Blakemore colleagues have supported more than a thousand good causes in communities across the company’s trading area over the Christmas period.

Staff across the Blakemore estate have done their bit for local charities and good causes by donating food, collecting for Christmas appeals, fundraising and offering support from the Blakemore Foundation.

Blakemore Foodservice’s James Bridge and Wakefield depots have donated food and drink to the value of £21,767 to local food banks.

Colleagues from Blakemore Retail, Trade Partners, Logistics, Wholesale Distribution, Foodservice and Technical Services have also sourced help from the Blakemore Foundation to award more than 1,000 in-kind donations and 145 monetary donations to good causes, worth more than £58,000 in total.

Bundles of seasonal goods have been awarded to help celebrate festivities safely this year, from online auctions to drive-by Santa sleighs, toy appeals and Christmas party bubbles. Good causes have included Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Welsh Air Ambulance NHS Trust, Willowbrook Care Home in Bettws and Ysgol Gynradd Amlwch.

Meanwhile, hundreds of essential groceries, toiletries and laundry products have been in high demand this season. Vital supplies have been donated to food banks, homeless shelters and numerous community-driven parcel appeals for the elderly, homeless and disadvantaged. Some of these worthy good causes have included Blacon Beacon, Caring for Communities and People in Cheltenham, St Peter’s Church in Holywell, Halesworth Foodbank and Sheffield S6 Foodbank, to name but a few.

In addition to charitable giving, Blakemore Retail colleagues up and down the country have donated their time to supporting local good causes. Projects have been modified this year to ensure the safety of staff and good causes. Community projects have included packing food hampers (at home) to donate to those in need, delivering and decorating Christmas trees and distributing care packages to the elderly.

Finally, colleagues across the business took part in a company-wide Festive Fancy Dress Day fundraiser on 11th December. The event raised £154 for St John Ambulance and contributed towards Blakemore Retail’s NSPCC Christmas fundraising, which is estimated to have raised around £20,000.

Community Affairs Officer Kate Senter said: "I’d like to thank every single one of you who has supported a local good cause this challenging year.

“Without your support, local charities, organisations and voluntary groups would not have been able to help so many vulnerable and disadvantaged people this year. I hope that all this great work inspires others to get involved in future community activity.

“Finally, it is humbling to see so many modified Christmas festivities taking place virtually and in Covid-safe ways to bring a smile to others’ faces. I am overwhelmed by people’s generosity and the Christmas spirit. Wishing you all a safe and merry Christmas.” 

Here is a snapshot of the festive activity that has taken place across AFB's estate this Christmas: 

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