First Essex delivers Christmas gifts to help families in Colchester

First Essex delivers Christmas gifts to help families in Colchester

Colleagues from bus operator First Essex, have donated over 200 gifts and clothes to Essex Police’s annual Giving Tree initiative for underprivileged children.

The gifts, including seven scooters, a bike, skateboards, basketball hoops, dressing up clothes, toys, games, books and warm clothing were donated by First Essex colleagues at the company’s Colchester depot.

The Giving Tree initiative, which has been run by Essex Police for three years, helps local families by providing gifts for those who are struggling financially.

Led by two of the force’s children and young person’s officers, the team work with local schools and organisations to help identify those children who are unlikely to receive a gift.

PC Carly Mond, one of the organisers of the Giving Tree Initiative at Essex Police, said: “A huge thank you to everyone at the Colchester Depot for your fantastic contribution to our Giving Tree initiative.

“This year, more than 200 children were nominated to receive gifts, and so your donations are gratefully received and will help to ensure that vulnerable children in Colchester don’t go without this Christmas.”

PC Kelly Metcalfe one of the other Children and Young Persons officers also organising this event said: “We have wrapped between 1200 to 1500 toys for children this Christmas and every donation has helped, thank you.”

Christine Hampson, Colchester Depot Assistant and one of the toy drive organisers, said: “We really wanted to do something to support families in Colchester, and so we jumped at the chance to help Colchester Police with its wonderful Giving Tree initiative.

“The cost of living sky high right now and so it’s an incredibly challenging time for many families, and so we really wanted to get involved in helping to support local people in need.”

First Essex operates over 250 buses across the county, and employs over 1,000 people, including bus drivers, engineers and support staff.