KIND-hearted staff at a dale builders’ merchants had to call in the cavalry to help pick up goodies they’d purchased so they could give a little festive cheer to older residents.
S&A Builders Merchants, in Harmire Enterprise Park, Barnard Castle, has for the past month been raising funds through a draw so they can fill gift bags for residents who attend Teesdale Day Clubs.
Customers were invited to pay £1 and pick a square between one and 1,000 to win a host of prizes, donated by the company’s suppliers.
The winners were drawn on Friday, December 14 and the initiative raised £800.
Thanks to a £500 donation from one of the company’s suppliers, Glenys Catterson, S&A’s owner and director, and Alison Thackray, the purchasing officer, had more than £1,300 to spend.
However, when they purchased all the items at the supermarket, they had to call staff at the Barnard Castle branch because there was not enough room in their vehicles.
Ms Thackray said: “We thought it was a really good idea at the time, but we had over five trolleys and it
wouldn’t fit in our cars, so we had to call the office and get them to send the tipper truck.”
The women spent a day filling 270 gift bags with a range of food items including biscuits, sweets, soup, coffee and tea.
Different staff members will hand them out to Teesdale Day Clubs before Christmas. Ms Catterson said: “We just want to thank all our customers and suppliers for all their support. By buying places on the numbers draw they’ve helped us put this together.”
