From Monday 6th to Saturday 11th December, South Western Railway (SWR) customers are being urged to take part in the company’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal, which is set to help vulnerable children and adults and the homeless at Christmas.
SWR staff at participating stations (Ryde Esplanade for Isle of Wight customers) will be working with agency partners Adecco Rail and STM to help make the festive season just a bit better for people in difficult circumstances.
Gifts for vulnerable or those facing homelessness
The hope is that people will prepare a small shoebox of gifts, or even just a single gift for someone who is vulnerable or facing homelessness this Christmas and take it to one of the participating SWR stations between 6th-11th December, where colleagues will be collecting them to pass to their nominated local charities.
Last year, SWR handed over 750 shoe boxes for homeless people as well as 630 individual gifts for vulnerable people across the network.
O’Brien: An especially difficult time for so many
Jim O’Brien, Station Contracts Manager for SWR, who is coordinating the appeal, said,
“We know that local charities based in the communities around our stations provide vital support for the vulnerable and the homeless all year round, but the holiday season is an especially difficult time for so many.
“We hope that people who live near and travel from participating stations will donate what they can and help the less fortunate this Christmas.”
Drop-off points
The stations taking part in the Christmas Shoebox Appeal are:
Ascot, Basingstoke, Bournemouth, Clapham Junction, Chandlers Ford, Earlsfield, Fareham, Fratton, Guildford, Hampton, Hedge End, Kingston, London Waterloo, Portsmouth and Southsea, Portsmouth Harbour, Putney, Richmond, Ryde (IOW), Shepperton, Southampton, Sunbury, Swanwick, Wimbledon, Winchester, Woking.
News shared by Steve on behalf of South Western Railway. Ed
Image: freestocks under CC BY 2.0
