Children from South Cumbria will have a happier Christmas this year, thanks to the generosity of a local accountancy firm – and the energy of three of its team.
A trio from JF Hornby & Co in Ulverston hit the aisles of a superstore in Barrow on a trolley dash for toys in aid of the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal.
They were given free rein to stack the trolley as high as possible by managing director of the company, Paul Hornby.
Lucy Williamson, who is a member of the administration team, was joined by colleagues India McClure and Sarah Woodward.
She said: “We have been doing a trolley dash for a number of years now and have always done so in aid of local food banks.
“This year we decided to change the focus slightly and cram as many toys as possible into our trolley for children in the area who come from less fortunate families.
“It has been another incredibly tough year, so we wanted to give back and help a wonderful cause that provides support to struggling families.
“When we went to drop the toys off at the Salvation Army, we couldn’t believe how much had been donated. We were blown away by the generosity of local people. It really was amazing.”
The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal is run across the UK at hundreds of the organisation’s churches and centres.
With Christmas Eve now almost upon us the toys will be distributed by volunteers from the Salvation Army to ensure, as far as possible, that no child wakes up on Christmas day to an empty stocking.
Paul Hornby said: “It’s so important that we all do our bit when it comes to helping people who are not as fortunate as ourselves and the annual JF Hornby Trolley Dash has become a fixture in our festive calendar.
“There was a slight change in focus this year. But the underlying principle was the same; to help as many local families as we can at what should be a special time of the year.
“I hope we have been able to play a small part. We see ourselves as very much a part of the communities we serve as a business and through initiatives like this, and also through the JF Hornby Foundation, we try to have a positive impact.”
