Record Breaking Gift Drive

News
19.12.2019

For the second year running we ran our Christmas Gift Drive which started on Tuesday 2 December and run through until Thursday 12 December. Gift tags where place on Christmas trees in each reception and in Flour’s canteen where Occupiers were warmly welcomed to take a tag and purchase a gift for someone in need. Tags offered a suggested gift and age range to match the needs of local charities. We have been blown away by how incredibly generous our occupiers have been and are delighted to say that we received a recording breaking 360+ gifts!

The presents were handed out to local charities such as Step by Step, who provide accommodation and support for homeless youths; Frimley Park Hospital who will hand out gifts to children hospitalised over the festive period; The Mayors Christmas Grotto and Sandyhill Project who both hosted Christmas parties for families in extreme deprivation; and to the elderly Home Help clients who have no next of kin and therefore unlikely to receive any Christmas gifts.

Each charity expressed their thanks and highlighted the important and positive impact this has, especially at this time of year when emotions are magnified. Melissa, Chairperson for Sandyhill Project said ‘I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the amazing presents, we went through them all this morning and we have been able to give each child two gifts each. People’s generosity is huge and we cannot express our thanks enough.’