COMFORT AND JOY
Stores are ready to support our appeal
TESCO stores are setting up postboxes for your donations
SUPERMARKETS are spreading festive feeling in the community by hosting charity postboxes for voucher donations.
Four Tesco stores across the area have joined the Comfort and Joy campaign, backed by The News, which will see thousands of pounds worth of gift vouchers donated in the run-up to Christmas.
Festive postboxes have appeared in Tesco stores in Havant, Fratton, Gosport and Portsmouth’s Crasswell Street, for customers to have an easy way to drop off their donations.
Tara Bellinger, community champion at Fratton Park Tesco Extra, said: ‘I would like to say for myself and on behalf of all of my colleagues that we are delighted to be a part of the Comfort and Joy campaign and look forward to supporting families in need of a bit of cheer this Christmas, especially given all that has happened and is still continuing.’
As well as the voucher scheme, this year the charity campaign is being extended to encourage people to reach out to neighbours who might be lonely over the festive period and share a gift, card or kind word.
Jade Diamond, from Tesco in Grange Road, Gosport, said: ‘Here at Tesco in Alver Village we are keen to always get stuck in and involved with the community and local charities. Being the community champion I can fully embrace this!’
To donate a voucher at a participating Tesco supermarket, simply buy a Christmas card and write a message, without including your name and address, and purchase a gift voucher of £5 to put inside the card.
Do not seal the envelope, and place the Christmas card into one of the festive postboxes in the area.
If these stores are not near you, you can send a gift card, cash or cheque payable to St Mary’s Church in the post to St Mary’s Vicarage, Fratton Road, Portsmouth, PO1 5PA. Alternatively, you can hand in at St Mary’s Church any morning between 9am and midday.