STAFF from a Specsavers team in greater London helped out for the day at the distribution centre for Crisis based in Canning Town, to ensure donations are shipshape for the winter months.
Based in the main warehouse depot, which is the largest Crisis distribution centre in the UK, the team was tasked with stock taking, preparing the logistics and transport section and optimising the running of the warehouse ahead of the winter and Christmas periods, when it anticipates being incredibly busy.
Specsavers Corporate sponsorship of the ‘Crisis at Christmas’ campaign was launched 12 months ago with the aim of expanding the range of health and wellbeing services it offers to the homeless via its UK-wide network of Skylight Centres.
Since then, numerous central London stores have raised awareness of the charity and carried out fundraising through in-store and online donations, plus colleagues have volunteered at sight clinics.
Summing up the day’s volunteering, Field Marketing Manager Lottie Gregory says; ‘The Greater London Ops team spent the day organising all the clothes in the warehouse into separate units that can be re-sold online or sent back into their shops to raise money to support the charity. A hectic day, it was worthwhile knowing that we are supporting such a worthy cause.’
Crisis works with thousands of people experiencing homelessness, providing education, training and support with housing, employment and health. Through its frontline services across Britain, the charity helps people find a path out of homelessness for good.
With more than 227,000 people across Britain currently experiencing the worst forms of homelessness, including sleeping on the streets and on public transport or in insecure and temporary accommodation, like hostels and B&Bs, donations to the charity are invaluable in providing support to these people. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, it is highly likely that this alarming figure will increase further, with many more put at real risk of homelessness as financial pressures intensify.
Commenting about the volunteering in East London, Sally Emms, Stores Marketing Field Team Lead, says: ‘It was a high energy day as the entire team felt like we were really making a difference. The range of tasks involved in managing the operation is huge and it was gratifying to feel that we had played a small part in this. We left in the evening feeling that it was a job well done!
Crisis Warehouse Manager, Richard Davies says: ‘We really valued the input of the Specsavers team, and the fact they gave up a day of their valuable time. They all have such great skills and contributed fresh ideas as to how we could make sure the warehouse is operating efficiently to deliver the maximum service to all the homeless people we support.’
Specsavers partners were recently involved in a fundraising bike ride from London to Edinburgh with Crisis CEO to raise money for the charity. To support this initiative you can do so via their JustGiving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/thespecsaversteam
