This year our local Sainsbury’s decided to reach out in a very special way to its local community and beyond. The staff decided to go the extra mile – teaming up with one of their local Catholic Nuns, known by the local community as Sr. Jossi. The staff, out of their own generosity, decided to make up Christmas hampers to donate to those who could do with a little bit of cheering up; and yes; they did.

The staff who work at Sainsbury’s Chislehurst, led by Victoria, decided that instead of buying presents for each other for Christmas, they decided they wanted to do something different to help people in the community, those who may be struggling. They did not know how to find the families in need, so they thought of Sr Jossi who works with families in the local churches.

Their names were Sophie, Tina, Pauline, Victoria, Luke, Sabita, Jack, Louise, and Kerry.

4 big hampers went to 4 different families with more than 5 children each. 4 other hampers were split and shared with 12 families including 3 elderly people living on their own.

Sr. Josephine has no car, but she was able, through the help of other local people in the community, to carry the hampers all around Chislehurst, Mottingham and even as far as Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich – the pictures speak for themselves.

In all, more families than we expected benefitted from the gesture by Sainsbury’s staff.

Because it went so well, they have decided to make it an annual event to support local people.

Response from Sr Josephine Udie hhcj:

‘I am writing to share with the whole world that there is great joy in the story of the birth of Christ because, in it, you can see charity in action. You can also see that nothing is too difficult to do when people see that they can share even the little they have with so many others.’

‘As I went around with the hampers, each time I turned up on their doorsteps, you could see the joy on their faces and some tears as it was something they were never or at least expecting.’

‘There are cries of poverty going around with the current crisis, but for the local Sainsbury’s, it is more ACTION than words; they responded in a very special and unique way, not just having people coming into the shops to help but reaching out to those who needed some Christmas cheering but also saying to them, you are not alone, we are here to help you. What an amazing role model our local Sainsbury’s staff are.’

‘What an amazing gesture and show of solidarity with its local community in celebrating Christmas 2022.’  Sr Josephine Udie hhcl.

Author: visit chislehurst