Enterprise pubs are inviting customers to donate food items as part of a Giving Tree campaign supporting the Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal.
With pubs being a focal point of the community, the Giving Tree encourages pub customers to give something back to those within their local area who are in need this Christmas.
Each participating pub has already received a cardboard Giving Tree trimmed with gift information tags which customers can detach and take away with them to buy a particular food item. Donated items are then returned to the pub and placed under the tree. Local Salvation Army ministers and volunteers will be working with Enterprise to collect and deliver the gifts to their regional distribution centres.
The requested gifts are non-perishable goods such as tins of beans, packets of rice and jars of coffee. The Salvation Army reports that these basic food cupboard items can bring light and hope to what can be a cold and desperate time for homeless people, as well as many isolated older people and families in poverty.
With a network of 800 churches and social service centres, the donated food items will be used according to the needs of each community. They could end up at a walk-in centre, a children’s lunch club, or even within food parcels for families that the local minister is aware of.
Alison Snell, Publican at the Sir John Franklin in Greenhithe, Kent said: “Our customers have been very generous, bringing in much more than just one item. We’ve had to clear the gifts from under the tree to make room for more coming in. Everyone wants to help.” Regulars at the Sir John Franklin hope to see the Giving Tree return next year.
The Salvation Army is an international Christian church and registered charity working in 124 countries worldwide and is one of the largest, most diverse providers of social welfare in the world. Registered Charity Nos. 214779, 215174 and in Scotland SC009359, SC037691. For more information, visit the Salvation Army website.