City Sainsbury's stores raise £20k for St Columba's Hospice

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Two Sainsbury's stores in Edinburgh have raised over £20,000 for St Columba's Hospice as part of their charity of the year partnerships. Sainsbury's in Blackhall raised £14,000 and Sainsbury's St Andrew Square raised £6,500 during 2010 to 2011 by holding a range of innovative fundraising activities.

Sainsbury's Blackhall held a number of fundraising days and charity bag packing collections to raise funds for St Columba's Hospice. Two brave male staff members even took part in a sponsored waxing to boost the Hospice's coffers. The store also donated out-of-date flowers to the Hospice, displayed charity collection tins in store and sold special St Columba's Hospice trolley keyrings to shoppers.

Sainsbury's St Andrew Square also took an initiative approach to fundraising for the Hospice, holding sponsored weight loss and moustache growing challenges. They also held raffles, tombolas and a bake sale.

Martin Lawlor, Campaign Fundraising Manager for St Columba's Hospice said:

"St Columba's Hospice is very lucky to have had the support of two Sainsbury's stores in Edinburgh, and we can't thank store managers Shay Dean and Barry Low enough for their proactive, innovative and creative approach to fundraising for us. Both stores have shown great commitment to helping St Columba's Hospice and we are honoured to have been their charity partner. These funds will go a long way towards helping us build our new St Columba's Hospice."

David Bainbridge, store manager for Sainsbury's Blackhall said:

"Our staff and customers were very proud to support St Columba's Hospice, as they are a local charity that makes such a difference to the community. We are delighted to have raised £14,000 for St Columba's Hospice, which will help fund their vital care and services for patients and families in our community."

Barry Low, store manager for Sainsbury's St Andrew Square said:

"Here at Sainsbury's St Andrew Square we feel very much part of the local community and we all know of someone who has been helped by St Columba's Hospice in the past. They do a fantastic job and I'm very proud of our partnership with them. We are really pleased to have raised £6,500 due to our colleagues and customers commitment to our local community. It's great to work with St Columba's Hospice and help make a difference and raise funds for such an important cause."

The partnerships both came about after the store's customers were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite local charity. St Columba's Hospice was one of the top three nominees and was selected as the winner by the store's charity council.

Last year, Sainsbury's stores and their customers helped more than 750 charities and organisations across the UK through fundraising and volunteering and gave more than £1.3 million of support to local communities.

Ends

For further information or to organise a photo or interview opportunity, please contact Isabelle Herlt, PR and Communications Manager of St Columba's Hospice, on 0131 551 1381 or iherlt@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

» Return to listing