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SICK children and seniors will have a lot to smile about Christmas, thanks to a fundraising campaign run by local taxi company Cross Street Cars.
The company, which has operated in Swindon for more than forty years, will visit residents of Abbey Meads care home and children at Great Western Hospital during the Christmas season to spread some Christmas cheer at a time when many many people can struggle.
Collection boxes and a fundraiser page will be used to raise funds for gifts and toys that the drivers and owners of the business will deliver over Christmas.
Sonia Nijjar, 22, daughter of owner Sat Nijjar and fundraiser organizer, told Adver:
“I love giving back to sick children, especially at Christmas. The hospital is not a very nice place for Christmas and I have seen the effect it has on children when you give them a gift.
“It’s nice to give back and see where your money is going, to see a sick little kid who doesn’t have much to smile about.
“And just by talking to these kids they obviously see their parents and doctors and nurses and they don’t get a chance to interact with other people it’s nice to sit and talk to them. and make them feel better and tell them that whatever the disease they are in because they will get better.
“We’re lucky to have family and friends, but you forget there are people out there who don’t. It’s good to make sure that as many people as possible feel happy. ”
The company’s drivers work closely with the retirement home, many of which have dementia, and have completed training with the home, often getting to know their clients well.
“Drivers build relationships with the customers they pick up,†added Sonia.
“We have one lady in particular that we pick up once a week to take her to the one-day session she’s going to.
“With Abbey House, we work very closely with them, it can be a lonely place.
“Christmas should be the complete opposite of that. So we’re going to go out there and spend time with the residents at the house and give them the presents, just to make them feel good and happy.”
Donation boxes will be dropped off at the station and at the Cross Street Cars garage, located next to the transfer bridge roundabout.
There is also a Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/crossstreetcars for those who wish to donate online.
The organizers requested that the toys donated for the children be in their original packaging and cannot be used.
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