From shopping bags to Grab Bags

Staff at Marks and Spencer Simply Food on Sears Retail Park in Shirley voted for Troop Aid to be their ‘Charity of the Year’ – resulting in £7,955 being donated to the charity.

Troop Aid volunteers assisted the check out assistants during the last year by packing shoppers’ bags.

When asked why they chose Troop Aid as their charity of the year, Kim Lynch who works on the Customer Service Desk at the store commented: “Troop Aid is a local charity and one to which we all felt we could relate.

“When I met Pam from Troop Aid, I knew straight away that we could work together. Our working relationship with the volunteers from Troop Aid has been fantastic. It’s been like working with members of the family and Pam and I have now become good friends, too.

“We also knew that several of our colleagues have served their country in the armed forces.

“With all that’s going on in the world, we felt it was the right charity to support as we could all relate to the work it does.’

Speaking on behalf of Troop Aid, Pam Sutton said: “At Troop Aid we were absolutely thrilled when M&S staff said they wanted to work with us as their Charity of the Year.

“The staff at the store have always made us feel really welcome and all of the volunteers have enjoyed the bag packing.

“It’s been lots of fun but with a serious purpose.

“On behalf of Troop Aid I’d like to say a huge thank you to the M&S staff for all their commitment and help, but also a most sincere thank you to all the customers who have been so generous and supportive, helping us raise £7,955 to support our injured troops.

“The funds raised will enable us to give Grab Bags http://www.troopaid.info/the-grab-bag.html to 198 injured service personnel.”

A registered charity, Troop Aid’s patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.

Troop Aid is funded by donations and receives no government support. Anyone interested in finding out more and to learn how they might offer support, telephone 0121 711 7215 or go to their website www.troopaid.info.

Donations can be sent to: Troop Aid, 21 Radway Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4NR.

Photograph courtesy of Gerry McLaughlin: L-R: M&S staff with Troop Aid volunteers – Jemma Wiles; Sarah Viles; Vanessa Lindsey; Al Sutton, Troop Aid co-founder and Trustee; Denise Brown, Troop Aid volunteer; Kim Freeman, Troop Aid volunteer; Toni Masterson; Kim Lynch; Fiona Colman.