For the past six years, 25 Tesco stores across Manchester have supported Hits Radio’s Mission Christmas initiative, last year donating £20,000 of value in toys and cash donations. This year the stores are calling to the public to help the initiative reach its donation goal despite COVID-19 challenges.
Previously, the 25 stores across Manchester used in-store donation points to collect for the project.
This year, due to COVID-19 setbacks, the stores have been unable to meet their usual donation amounts, leaving them anxious about how children across Manchester will experience Christmas this year.
Mission Christmas, which is the UK’s biggest toy appeal, last year distributed gifts and donations to over unprivileged 42,000 children in Manchester alone.
Kieran Jones, Community Champion for the group of Manchester stores, said:
“Last year we were able to donate £20,000 worth of contributions to Mission Christmas from our Manchester stores – £8,000 of cash and the rest in selflessly donated toys and gifts. We even had to hire a van to transport the gifts to Mission Christmas HQ, filling it nearly 6 times over!
“In previous years, we were known across the community for hosting large in-store donation drives, but obviously this is not possible or safe with current COVID-19 rates. While we are still happy to collect donations from customers, we would encourage donating straight to the initiative through online means, to ensure all our customers are kept safe.”
This year, Kieran has donated gifts to the initiative on behalf of Tesco. After Mission Christmas revealed that they’re struggling for gifts for 0 to 3 year olds and teenagers, Kieran contributed £250 worth of baby gifts and an additional £250 worth of £15 Amazon vouchers for the teenager bracket.
With 1 in 3 children living in poverty this Christmas, gifts like those donated from Tesco are a simple luxury that most won’t receive this year.
For further details, including information on how to get involved, gift ideas for different age groups, and how to make a donation – visit the Hits Radio Manchester website here.
