Supermarket chain Waitrose and John Lewis say they will be trying to raise £5m for less-fortunate families through FareShare and Home-Start to give British citizens a ‘Christmas like no other.’
The scheme features a one-to-one charity donation in which Waitrose will match any donations given by consumers up to £2 million. It also has further programmes in place that will trigger donations, such as the purchase of exclusive products and through loyalty cards.
“During 2020 we’ve seen some inspiring and heartwarming acts of kindness throughout our country and our communities,” Pippa Wicks, executive director of John Lewis & Partners, said. “Now we want to build on this spirit to create a legacy that extends well beyond Christmas. Together we can all make a big difference to the families who need our help most.”
The retailer is further asking its shoppers to “show kindness to someone who needs it and help in their local community.” It is planning for the launch of campaign this month that it says “will provide a lifeline for 100,000 families.” FareShare and and Home-Start will help provide the food and support parents and children need during this unprecedented time.
“We have all seen first-hand how the pandemic is pushing families to the edge, especially those already facing challenges in their lives,” Peter Grigg, Chief Executive of Home-Start UK said. “Home-Start is there for families when they need us most and we have been overwhelmed by the kindness shown in our communities during the pandemic. But there is so much more to do. Working with John Lewis Partnership colleagues, customers and communities, we can reach more families and communities at this vital time. We are proud to be a partner in this exciting ambition to transform the lives of thousands of families and children this Christmas and beyond.”
With demand on the rise and more customers needing home delivery, Waitrose also announced this week it will add a further 1,850 additional drivers and pickers for its online service, Waitrose.com. It says those hires will take place this month and in December.
“This year our online shopping operation has more than trebled, and we know that the demand for our Waitrose.com service will continue throughout the festive season,” said Waitrose Director of Online, Laura Burbedge. “Our customers are planning ahead and adding Christmas items to their online baskets, with seasonal products on Waitrose.com up 250% so far in comparison to last year.”
Waitrose also recently announced the expansion of its trail with Deliveroo to 25 more shops, reaching 3.1 million households across the UK.
