We at Little Explorers Nursery have chosen Wood Street Mission as our first ever charity of the year and we have also become a dedicated donation centre for the mission.
As a nursery group - with sites in Swinton, Langworthy and Eccles - we wanted to choose a local charity that helps children and families in the surrounding area.
Wood Street Mission provides support to alleviate the day-to-day impact of poverty and improve children's life chances in Manchester and Salford.
Our Eccles nursery, at Bright House on Bright Road, will be a collection point for the charity, with residents from the surrounding areas welcome to drop off donations before the first collection on Friday 23rd March 2018.
The charity is currently short of clothes for school age children up to teenagers, books for all ages of children and toiletries. Baby equipment such as prams and cots are also in short supply.
Nicola Green, Director of Little Explorers, said: "We come into contact with many local families and we wanted to collectively do something to help those in need. We've raised funds for charity before but this time, we wanted to dedicate a whole year of activity to a local cause we feel passionate about.
"As a family, we count ourselves lucky every day and now is the time to give something back to others. We often get parents bringing in clothes that have been outgrown and toys that are no longer played with - we know these will go to a good home at Wood Street Mission."
Des Lynch, Wood Street Mission Manager, said: "We'd like to say a big thank you to Nicola and her husband Gordon for choosing us as Little Explorers' charity of the year and becoming a donation collection point. Manchester has high levels of child poverty and thousands of children and their families need our help every year.
"The children we help lack everyday essentials other children take for granted, like clothes, toys and bedding. Their families cannot afford to buy them new coats and shoes, the bus fare for a day out, or leisure activities like going swimming with friends. We rely on support from local businesses like this to address these inequalities and help us make a real difference to children's lives."
Donations for Wood Street Mission will be accepted at all three Little Explorers sites:
Eccles - Bright House, Bright Road, M30 0WG
Langworthy - Langworthy Cornerstone, Liverpool Street, M6 5QQ
Swinton - Network House, 475 Bolton Road, M27 8BB