Gifts donated for Ross-shire homeless children

Big-hearted members of staff at the Tesco store in Dingwall have generously donated gifts to ensure that every child in Ross-shire waking up in homeless accommodation on Christmas morning will have a special parcel to open.

The Tesco Management team in Dingwall gave up their Secret Santa money, staff donated gifts and the Tesco Community Budget funded selection boxes for each child. 

Highland Council Principal Housing Officer, Derek Manson, and his team are overwhelmed how generous staff have been. He said: “Being homeless is challenging for anyone, at any time, and being homeless with children, at this time of year, can be particularly difficult. Despite the concerted efforts of the Housing team in Dingwall, to permanently rehouse all homeless persons as quickly as possible, inevitably there are families in temporary, but suitable, accommodation over Christmas. We are proud to be working with Tesco to ensure that all children, in temporary accommodation within Ross-shire, receive an extra gift this Christmas, and we are staggered at the generosity of the management, staff and Community Champion, Tom Norton, at Tesco in Dingwall. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of them for their outstanding support. My Housing team will be out delivering these gifts before Christmas, and wishing their clients well during the festive period.”

Tesco Community Champion, Tom Norton said: “Since the Highland Council approached me a few weeks ago I haven't stopped thinking about the kids and how I'd like to play some part in making this Christmas special. Whether it be asking colleagues to donate presents or the managers giving up their Secret Santa, it really is incredibly humbling to know how generous they all are, and for that I cannot thank them enough.”

In Ross-shire 31 children under the age of 16 will be spending Christmas in suitable, temporary homeless accommodation.

The Civic Leader for Ross and Cromarty, Councillor Margaret Paterson came along to Tesco today to help Santa collect the parcels and to thank staff.  She said: “Christmas is a magical time for children and we can’t thank staff enough for their amazing generosity. It shows the true spirit of Christmas and thanks to the absolutely fantastic selection of gifts we will be able to ensure the children will have something special to open on Christmas morning.”