Tesco Extra in Coatbridge kicked the year off with a bang to thank its generous customers for helping the store raise more than £125,000 for local causes and charities in 2024.
To mark a fantastic 12 months of fundraising through in-store collections, as well as through Tesco initiatives such as the Stronger Starts grant, the team at the superstore invited the Uddingston Strathclyde Pipe Band to perform for shoppers.
Elizabeth Wilkie, community champion at Coatbridge Tesco Extra Superstore, said: “Last year, we’d decided to set an ambitious goal to raise £100,000 for some fantastic causes, so to smash our target has been an incredible feeling.
“Thanks to the kindness of both our shoppers and in-store team, we’ve been able to help charities, local community groups, schools and Coatbridge Foodbank, through funding, our food donation schemes, or our Stronger Starts grant that customers vote for using the blue tokens.”
Alongside customer donations, kind-hearted Tesco colleagues from the store also went the extra mile to raise funds for charity throughout the year, taking part in the annual Kiltwalk held in Glasgow alongside hosting several fancy-dress events in store.
Some of the charities who have been supported through raised funds include Help for Heroes, Poppy Scotland, BITEL UK and humanitarian charity Spirit Aid, among many others.
Alongside the funds collected and donated, 2024 also saw the store continue to provide surplus food to local groups and schools through the Community Food Collection, as well as host a Royal Air Force Veterans community group Christmas party for local veterans to enjoy.
The “year of kindness” was wrapped up by the store’s toy appeal in December, which saw more than 700 toys being donated to Spirit Aid, to help provide some festive cheer for families at Christmas.
Elizabeth continued: “Our store manager, Maureen Gallagher, and department manager Paul Harris agreed that we wanted to thank the local community, so we were delighted to have Uddingston Strathclyde Pipe Band perform for our loyal customers as a thank you to the people of Coatbridge for their incredible generosity this year.
“In 2025, we’re looking to go even bigger and better, as we look to raise over £125,000 in store for more worthy causes within the local community.”
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