Staff and volunteers at the Beacon Centre for the Blind charity shop in Cannock are inviting local children to a special winter wonderland experience where they can write to Father Christmas and help support a very worthy cause at the same time.
Children visiting the charity shop on Market Place will be surrounded by Christmas trees and snowmen as they write their own personal Christmas list for Santa and post it in the special post box to Lapland.
Youngsters will also have the opportunity to enter a colouring competition for the chance to win a range of great prizes including books and a bumper pack of stationery in time for Christmas.
Whilst the children are busy getting crafty, the adults can browse the large charity shop for last minute Christmas present ideas. There are a wide selection of gifts available including mugs and photo frames, as well as second-hand books and DVDs, all at bargain prices.
The leading West Midlands charity operates seven charity shops across the region which deliver much-needed funds through sales of quality donated items and a selection of new goods – the Cannock shop, which is on the premises of a former bank, is the largest the Beacon Centre has opened on the high street.
All money raised from the shops – in Wolverhampton, Bilston, Bloxwich, Wednesbury, Cannock, Halesowen and the centre in Sedgley – supports a range of services for people of all ages living with a visual impairment.
Tracey Ford, retail operations manager at the Beacon Centre for the Blind, said: “All children are very welcome to come and visit our winter wonderland at the Cannock shop where they can enter our fantastic colouring competition and have the chance to write their Christmas lists – and of course we’ll make sure we check it twice before posting to Lapland!
“Whilst the children are busy, the adults can catch up with last minute Christmas shopping – we have a large range of gifts with something to suit all tastes, and, of course, every penny raised helps the Beacon Centre to help local people with sight loss live fuller and more independent lives.”
Entry to the colouring competition closes on Friday 20 December at 5pm.
The Beacon Centre for the Blind offers a full range of facilities and support partially sighted people, including a mix of residential, day care and community services.
More than 3,000 people in the community receive support from a team of dedicated outreach workers and social groups can meet at the Sedgley centre to participate in arts and crafts, music, fitness and IT sessions.
To find out more visit www.beacon4blind.co.uk