Four Mears branches across Gloucester and Bristol have rallied together in a 'Donate it' event to show support to South West Children's hospice.
Mears started 25 years ago in Gloucester and now operates around 150 branches Nationwide as a repairs and maintenance contractor and domiciliary care provider. The 'Donate It' event started in its head office in Gloucester but it was soon realised other local Mears branches could help too. This included the Mears Bristol branch, Mears Home Improvements in Gloucester and the Safe at Home Teams covering Gloucester and Bristol.
A van travelled door to door collecting donations from all offices including toys, books and clothes which can then be sold in the hospice shops to help raise money.
The children's hospice helps families build precious memories whose children are living with life-limiting or life threatening conditions. They rely on the generosity and efforts of people to deliver their promise to 'make the most of short and precious lives across the South West.'
Mears own charity, The Mears Foundation exists to help improve the lives of vulnerable or disadvantaged people in the UK and abroad through practical help, support and intervention.
In 2012 The Mears Foundation donated £6,000 which could fund two years' worth of bereavement activities at the Charlton Farm Hospice. Karen Edgington, CHSW Head of Fundraising at Charlton Farm said "We are grateful to The Mears Foundation for all their support. There donation will enable us to continue to provide our service of respite, emergency and end of life care to local families when they need it most"
In total a van load was collected as donations from Mears employees, Jane Smith, Retail Stock Generator from the hospice said "We'd like to say a big thank you to all the staff at Mears & The Mears Foundation for their support and for all the items they have donated for the Children's Hospice South West charity shops. Profits from our shops are hugely important in enabling CHSW to keep supporting local life-limited children and their families. Thank you for helping to make the most of short and precious lives"
Donna Ellis, Trustee to The Mears Foundation and Management Accountant for Mears said "I would like to say a huge thank you to all employees in donating goods in supporting the Children's Hospice South West Charity Shops. Thanks also needs to go to all who helped organise and coordinate these collections. We are delighted to support the Hospice's in helping to build precious memories for families whose children are living with life-limiting or life threatening conditions".