A Cumbrian charity has partnered with a supermarket to allow shoppers to donate money at the checkout using a digital donation scheme.
St Mary’s Hospice has joined the Pennies scheme at Booths Ulverston, allowing customers to add a donation when paying by card or digital wallet.
Shoppers can choose to add a few pence to their purchase to help the charity continue providing specialist care and support to patients and families across Furness and South Lakes.
Members of the hospice nursing team – Jill Park, Raven Caulfield and Paula Mullen – visited the store to meet store manager Andrew Allison and the team to mark the launch.
The Pennies scheme provides a way for people to support charities as fewer people carry cash. Digital collection replaces traditional tins, allowing small donations to accumulate during everyday purchases.
Booths customers raised more than £20,000 for St Mary’s Hospice during 2024 through the scheme. The charity provides its services free of charge and relies on donations from the community.
Esmie Pllana, corporate partnerships manager at St Mary’s Hospice, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the Pennies scheme and to be working with such a respected and well-known business as Booths Ulverston once again.
“We’re incredibly grateful to every customer who chooses to support St Mary’s by adding a few pennies to their next shop.
“You can be safe in the knowledge that every donation stays right here in our local community, helping us continue providing care and support for patients and families when they need us most.
“Every penny really does count. Those small donations quickly add up and make a huge difference to the compassionate, specialist care we provide.”
Andrew Allison, store manager at Booths Ulverston, said: “Booths Ulverston are delighted to be supporting St Mary’s hospice once again via our Pennies scheme. The partnership reflects what matters most to us – community, compassion and making a positive difference.
“We’re honoured to support our local hospice and the exceptional work they do every single day.”
