Your ‘presents’ is requested – festive toy truck comes to Norwich
Posted by paul reece | Published: 10/11/2023
‘Tis the season to be giving, as Central Co-op’s festive truck is set to make a stop at a local store.
As part of the Society’s annual Christmas Toy Appeal, locals are invited to bring gift donations to Central Co-op Reepham, on Station Road on Thursday 23 November.
The initiative, designed to ensure as many children as possible wake up to a present on Christmas Day, calls for people to donate new, unwrapped items such as puzzles, games, soft toys, outdoor toys, books, dolls/figures, and art materials. The items will be given to charities that include Family Action and the Salvation Army, as well as local foodbanks – ensuring the toys are gifted to youngsters most in need.
For those wanting to donate, but unable to attend on the day, donation bins will be available in all local Central Co-op stores and funeral homes throughout the Appeal, which ends on Friday 1 December.
Andy Seddon, Society Secretary for Central Co-op, said: “We’re excited to kick off the festive period with our Christmas Toy Appeal and to be bringing our Toy Truck to Norwich.
“As a co-operative, our goal is to support the communities we operate within – and there’s no better time than the holiday season to do so. No child should go without presents on Christmas Day, which is why we’re delighted to support some fantastic charities in their mission to create a memorable day for all.
“Each toy makes a difference, so we’d encourage anyone in Norwich who is able to donate to bring their donations to their local store.”
To find out more about Central Co-op, visit centralcoop.co.uk/
ENDS
About Central Co-op
Central Co-op is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK, with a heritage stretching back over 175 years and interests in food, funeral, floral and property investment.
Owned by hundreds of thousands of members, its 7,700 colleagues serve customers across 440 plus trading sites in 21 counties in the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
Its purpose is to create a sustainable Society for all.
It actively campaigns for food justice and works with FareShare Midlands and a network of local food banks. It also adds £1 to every Healthy Start Voucher redeemed in store and supports six schools in partnership with Magic Breakfasts.
The Society embraces inclusivity and equality and is a signed-up member to the Business in the Community (BITC) Race at Work Charter. The Society is also a member of Diversity in Retail and it is fully committed to addressing the impacts of climate change by reducing carbon and food waste, increasing recycling and investment in community Sustainable Spaces funded by the carrier bag levy. It recently launched its Malawi Partnership to support farmers and producers in the country through the Co-operative International Trading Development Fund.
It invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities through its Community Dividend Fund scheme which has seen over £109,769.25 shared out between 121 good causes in 2022.