With the cost-of-living crisis impacting lives across the UK, when we had the chance to spend some of our staff engagement budget on a Christmas boost for staff, this year we knew that our fundraising drive had to be aimed at mitigating the worst effects of rising costs being faced by so many people. With homelessness and hunger affecting scores of people in the North East, where we are headquartered, we were determined to have a deep dive into our pockets.
The first port of call was to hold a raffle, which gave us the chance to spread a bit of Christmas cheer while raising some money for a local charity. SMD donated £1000 worth of prizes, and then we invited team members and suppliers to donate any prizes that would encourage people to get involved. With daily prizes up for grabs throughout December including luxury gift sets, tech prizes, a National Trust membership, and a selection of shopping, dining and hotel vouchers, (along with some silly prizes like a dinosaur fancy dress outfit and a whoopee cushion) there truly was something for everyone.
We also had a drawing competition for all the younger family members of the team at SMD. We were all so impressed with the talent of SMD’s little artists that it was hard to choose a winner. In total, we raised £1700 for The People’s Kitchen. Maureen Armstrong, fundraising manager at The People’s Kitchen said: “We couldn’t be more grateful for SMD’s drive to make a difference. Their contribution has paid for x meals, making a big positive change in the lives of so many people.”
We’re all delighted that we’ve been able to make a positive contribution to the North East, which has been our home for over 50 years. Our local community is something we hold close to our hearts and we hope to continue making a difference for many years to come.
Thank you to our brilliant (and very generous) staff for your donations. We’re extremely proud to have a team so eager to give back.
