Shoppers and students dig deep to back supermarket's Christmas shoebox appeal

Tesco Extra in Wath has led the drive for good causes across the Rotherham and Sheffield area, including a hospice, children’s hospital and homeless charity.

Customers were encouraged to take a box and fill it with donated items they think a child in hospital, a hospice patient or a homeless person would need over the Christmas period, and then return it to the supermarket.

Suzanne Nettleton, community champion at the Wath store, said: “We first did the shoebox appeal in 2019 with great success, but we had to pause the initiative in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

“Now that things are getting back on track, we decided to give the appeal a massive push, so I started looking at local charities.

“I chose Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Rotherham Hospice because they are essential services in the community that all of us may need to rely on one day.”

Suzanne added: “I also wanted to make sure we donated to a charity that helps the homeless, so I contacted Sheffield Shoebox Appeal as well.

“The local branches of River Island, Next and Pettit’s in Mexborough have been amazing in saving the boxes for us.

“Some colleagues and I have been going on our own time to pick these up. 

“Members of the community, as well as work colleagues Michelle Fearne and Elizabeth Gill, have been wrapping the boxes, which has taken a while because everyone has been so generous.

“On top of that, my amazing colleague Caroline White did a collection in the Click and Collect department and made up seven amazing boxes.”

The appeal has involved Suzanne and Sheffield Children’s Hospital staff giving assemblies at Heather Garth Primary School and The Hill Primary, and students have donated their own shoeboxes to the appeal.

Chloe Brunton-Dunn, corporate partnerships officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to the team at Tesco Wath store for their longstanding support.

“As well as raising money all year round with a ToyPodz machine in their store, they have raised thousands of pounds towards our snowflake appeal at Sheffield Children’s, changing children’s lives for generations to come.

“It is therefore no surprise that they’ve chosen to make a difference once again this Christmas with their shoebox appeal.”

Stephen King, director of income generation at Rotherham Hospice, said the support “really makes a huge difference to the number of people we can help”.