Churchill Square is making an appeal to the community for help with collecting gifts, which will be donated to a local charity, as part of the shopping centre’s hugely popular Giving Tree campaign.
Churchill Square visitors are being kindly asked to visit the three special trees, which can be found on the east, west and lower central malls, where they will be able to select a tag and purchase a recommended gift for a child. The unwrapped, donated item can then to be taken to the customer services desk, along with the tag up until 5pm on Christmas Eve.
All offerings will then be presented to the Brighton-based children’s charity, Rockinghorse, which provides essential care and support for babies, children and their families, who are experiencing challenging health complications.
Ex-mayor, Councillor Pete West was in attendance to officially launch the campaign yesterday. Christmas 2019 marks the third year that the shopping centre has chosen Rockinghorse as the beneficiary of its gift appeal.
Mark Buchanan-Smith, centre director at Churchill Square, is confident that the public will once again show its great compassion and generosity for the cause. “We were overwhelmed last year by the kindness of the wonderful people of Brighton, with the contribution of 345 toys, books, stationery and more.
“It’s the season of goodwill and what better occasion for us to come together and show our gratitude to Rockinghorse for all it does to provide additional happiness to lives of poorly children in our community?
“Christmas, for many of us, is a time of joy and celebration and the Giving Tree campaign is a way of extending some festive cheer to those in less fortunate situations,” Mark added. “We look forward to bringing smiles to many little faces throughout the city and surrounding areas.”
Terrina Barnes, corporate fundraising manager at Rockinghorse, said: “We are so very grateful to Churchill Square for choosing to support Rockinghorse again during this year's Giving Tree appeal.
“Last year, the centre's generous shoppers donated over £3,300 worth of toys and gifts for poorly children in Brighton and across Sussex. We look forward to donating many more presents to young people in hospital again to help make their Christmas that little bit better.
