post front nov 20


Bristol shoppers donate gifts to needs families

Thursday, November 05, 2009, 07:00

Shoppers and staff at Bradley Stoke's Willow Brook Centre have come together to collect hundreds of gifts for needy families in Eastern Europe.

The initiative has come from education provider Kumon Educational UK whose regional office is based in the centre. By holding the shoe box appeal it has managed to collect more than 300 gifts.

The appeal ends on Friday, but boxes are still being collected from shoppers and neighbouring companies.

Kumon has teamed up with Link Romania as part of its corporate social responsibility programme and students are busy filling shoeboxes with gifts ready to be sent to deprived families in Romania, Moldova and Albania in time for Christmas.

Kumon's regional manager Kate Sheldon said: "We'd like to thank everyone who's participated in this appeal and donated a shoebox. The response has been brilliant – overwhelming even. Link Romania will be coming to collect them soon, but the appeal doesn't end till Friday, November 6 so we'd like to encourage everyone who can to fill a box and bring it in this week. This appeal provides the opportunity for us all to learn about the daily challenges faced by these communities, and is a great way to teach children how important it is to give to those less fortunate than themselves."

Since its foundation in 1991, Link Romania has brought relief to thousands of deprived people in Eastern Europe.

To donate a shoebox, visit the Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke, BS32 8EF.




Bradley Stoke

Bradley Stoke was named after the local Bradley Brook and Stoke Brook streams and was planned in the 1970s with building starting in 1987. The town is close to its planned population of 25,000
Business parks at the north of the town, the Aztec West business area and two supermarkets provide jobs but Bradley Stoke is a commuter town, with many people communiting to Bristol.
With the increase in interest rates in the 1990s and the subsequent housing slump, it became nicknamed "Sadly Broke" by some Bristolians due to the rising levels of negative equity within the area.
Now Bradley Stoke has six primary schools, a leisure centre with a swimming pool and library, and The Willow Brook Centre, with shops, a hotel and a restaurant opened in October 2008.

Population   21,000
OS grid ref   ST621813
Parish   Bradley Stoke
District   South Gloucestershire
Postcode   BS32
Dialing code   0117 and 01454
Police   Avon and Somerset
Fire   Avon
Ambulance   Great Western
Euro Parlilament   South West England
UK Parliament   Bristol North West
and Northavon













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