Over 100 bags filled with food items, warm coats and toys were donated to the charity, River Kids and social enterprises, Kidzeco and Invisible Cities, thanks to kind-hearted shoppers at The Centre, Livingston who took part in the mall’s ’12 Days of Donation’ Christmas appeal for the second year running.
During December shoppers handed in much-needed items including, food, toiletries, household supplies and clothing to the shopping centre’s donation box, situated next to the Customer Service Desk.
The aim of the initiative was to appeal to shoppers to hand in a different item every
day for 12 days, from tinned soups and breakfast cereals to toys and warm winter coats.
River Kids, which supports disadvantaged children and their families in West Lothian and Kidzeco, which is located at The Centre, who help families by selling affordable high-quality pre-loved children’s clothes, toys and essential equipment received most of the donations.
Both organisations have received ongoing support from The Centre, Livingston over the years, including taking part in their toy donation appeals.
All of the winter coats were given to the social enterprise, Invisible Cities, who provide help and support to people experiencing homelessness and also train people who have experienced hardship to be tour guides in their own cities.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our shoppers who took part in our ’12 Days of Donations’ initiative, for the second consecutive year.
“Every day for 12 days visitors to the mall headed along to the Customer Service Desk to hand in much-needed donations for River Kids, Kidzeco and Invisible Cities, including tins of soup, toiletries, household essentials and warm coats, with every item delivered in time for Christmas.”
Zakia Moulaoui, founder of Invisible Cities, said: “This winter has been a particularly cold one and will continue for a few months yet which is why we are incredibly grateful to every shopper who handed in a winter coat, as part of The Centre’s ’12 Days of Donation’ initiative.
“We’re so pleased to say that every one of the coats has been handed out to someone who is experiencing homelessness to help them keep warm this winter.”
Jack Christine, charity manager, from River Kids, said: “We are delighted to once
again be a recipient of the items donated by very generous shoppers through the ’12 Days of Donation’ initiative run by The Centre, Livingston.
“People are really seeing their budgets being squeezed this year, resulting in a substantial increase in the demand for the services that we provide which is why every item donated will go a long way to helping to ease just some of the difficulties people are facing this Christmas.
“We’d like to say a big thank you to the team at The Centre and to every shopper who took part in the appeal who have helped make someone’s Christmas a little bit easier and more special this year.”
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