Mercia's 'Can for Christmas' appeal a great success

BUSY weekends at Mercia Marina with festive shoppers full of seasonal goodwill has resulted in hundreds giving to Mercia’s 'Can for Christmas' appeal.

The Christmas lights  and displays bringing in the crowds to the Trent & Mersey's Santa’s waterside grotto bringing the cans of food for Santa’s sleigh, to be be delivered to the South Derbyshire CVS food bank.

Sheer generosity

Even the elves were taken aback by the sheer generosity of happy visitors bringing so many donations that Santa’s sleigh was filled more than 10 times over with the charity having to make several collection visits due to the sheer volume of can donations.

Mercia visitors were more than happy to embrace the idea of bringing a can for charity after their free visit to Santa and enjoying free ample parking, striking a seasonal win-win for all.

Happy children also went away with a free present delivering more value to everyone’s experience, with Ben Marshall, Communications Manager South Derbyshire CVS enthusing:

Heartfelt appreciation

“We extend heartfelt appreciation for the generosity displayed through the Santa's Grotto donations at Mercia Marina this year. The demands have surged, especially with an unprecedented number of individuals relying on food banks. Your support is invaluable, and it comes at a crucial time when the numbers in need are expected to rise even further.”

Tony Preston Sales and Marketing Manager explained:

“We are striving to make this time of year as special as we can to as many as we can as we know the harsh impact of rising bills, interest rates and the ongoing bite of the cost-of-living crisis. Providing Santa’s Grotto free of charge brings many smiles and festive joy for all and combined with free parking it makes it very easy to ask for a donation of a can of food for the CVS food bank.

"With the full force of Santa and his elves behind this we have found donations overflowing which has meant so much. It’s what Christmas is all about the joy of giving and the sentiment of community.”

Shops cafes and restaurants are all open and deliver a stress-free Christmas shopping experience. Santa’s Grotto is open for one more weekend 16th and 17th of December from 10am to 4pm and so another opportunity to break the food bank, in a good way. (Photograph below by Jason Thompson.}