Disadvantaged people in Milton Keynes benefited from a flurry of festive cheer thanks to volunteering teams at Argos.
Last Thursday, the Shrinkage and Compliance team from Argos Finance embarked on a mammoth mission to spread festive cheer across Milton Keynes with multiple charitable activities hosted on one day.
First up- a full sized Elf travelled from Dublin to Milton Keynes and raised £500 (and maybe some eyebrows at airport security) for a sensory table at the Hedgerows Family Centre.
Five groups were then split out on Thursday with one mission- to make people in MK feel good this festive season.
The first group’s mission was presenting a perfect ‘Christmas party’ for 40 disadvantaged children from Milton Keynes. Aged between two and four years old, the children from the Playzone Day Nursery at Hedgerows Family Centre are from families needing some extra support. With a Santa’s grotto, a snow machine on entrance, Christmas biscuit decorating, party games, party food, a disco and a gift to take away with them, the children were able to really immerse themselves into the magic of Christmas.
The second group’s duty was to make and deliver confectionery care packages to Macmillan Cancer Support patients in Milton Keynes and to put some smiles on faces when they least expect it.
The third group’s assignment was to host an afternoon tea for residents of Westbury Grange elderly home and enjoy some time playing bingo and getting to know them. There’s nothing like listening to interesting tales of times gone by over a nice cup of tea!
Group four gathered food bank donations for thirty-five vulnerable families via MK Food Bank with a mission to make full ‘Christmas dinner’ hampers for recipients.
Lastly, Group five headed to Sainsbury’s to assist customers with bagging Christmas shopping for a small donation to Macmillan Cancer Support and a whopping £565 was raised.
David Gray, Shrinkage and Compliance Controller at Argos said: “Our aim was to spread some festive cheer across Milton Keynes this Christmas and to as many residents as possible, of all age groups.
"It’s the small gestures that make a big impact on those who need help so we hope we’ve put some smiles on many faces.”
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Zoe Devenish, Head of Hedgerows Family Centre said “We are very grateful to Argos and Sainsbury’s for all their hard work in creating not only a wonderful party for the children but for all the planning and the amazing fundraising they completed as well.”
