We donate to local causes all year round, and Christmas is no different. This year, we've donated over £6,000 of vouchers to the islands food banks and charities that support food insecurity, which included 20 microwaves and 20 sets of Pyrex dishes given to a local food bank. We have also provided COOK frozen ready meals for 27 care leavers to enjoy on Christmas Day. 

In Jersey, there was a big Age Concern Christmas lunch in Jersey where we provided the vegetables, wine and mince pies for 100 guests, as well as providing mince pies and chocolates to four Age Concern groups in Guernsey. 

Small donations can also make a big difference, so in December, we've contributed 48 raffle prizes and small donations across Jersey and Guernsey including 50 hampers for vulnerable parishioners in St Brelade in conjunction with Les Quennevais school and £200 worth of vouchers for Les Cotils charity in Guernsey to go towards gifts to families they support on Boxing Day.

We continue to support the Salvation Army, Guernsey Welfare Trust, Good Companions, Shiloh Church, Communicare, Grace’s Trust, Age Concern, St Vincent De Paul, Shelter Trust, Caring Cooks and Brightly. 

We know that sometimes, giving our time can be more important than anything, and that's especially true at Christmas when islanders can sometimes feel lonely. 

We're so proud of our colleagues who have been busy volunteering at events across Jersey and Guernsey throughout December.

You might have spotted some of our colleagues at the Shelter Soup Kitchen in St Helier or at various Christmas lunches that support loneliness across our islands like the St Martin's soup kitchen in Guernsey. 

It's always a joy to be out in the community, meeting our members and customers and helping where we can. 

As well and time and money, we've focused on spreading a little festive joy to islanders when we can. Our Christmas Wish Tree in Jersey and our Support for the Tree of Joy in Guernsey, meant we were able to donate almost 100 gifts via charities supporting our youth and islanders suffering from mental health.

Our colleagues also delivered mince pies and chocolates at various Christmas events, chatting to islanders and finding out about their Christmas plans. In Guernsey we provided 450 chocolate oranges for ‘gifts for the elderly' and because Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without ugly jumpers, we hosted a Christmas jumper day in our office and stores, raising money for Jersey Hospice and Les Bourgs. 

Our colleagues at our Bridge store in Guernsey were particularly committed to spreading festive cheer this year, as they joined in with the Bridge traders to spread joy to the community, with a table of food they gave away to anyone passing and they also gave out plenty of random acts of kindness gifts, just because it's Christmas.