Whitchurch Co-op Funeralcare has celebrated its one year anniversary by donating £500 to a centre which provides care, companionship and rehabilitation for the elderly.
Ran by Southern Co-op, the funeral home opened its doors at 3 Winchester Street in December 2017 and has since gone on to help seven good causes in the local area. Funeral co-ordinators Jessie Pennie and Denise Meaden made the £500 donation to the Kingfisher Day Centre based in Laverstoke.
The centre is the funeral home’s chosen charity as part of Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ which addresses four key social themes for promoting ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.
Pennie, Southern Co-op’s funeral co-ordinator, said: “The last year has flown by and it has been really special to be welcomed into such a close and supportive community. So far we have helped raise nearly £3,000 for the local community which feels such an incredible thing to have been able to do.
“We have also been able to support a number of local families who have lost loved ones. We realise people would often prefer not to think about funerals but our door is always open for people to get any niggling questions answered – or if they are just passing by and want to pop in for a cuppa.”
During the birthday celebrations, colleagues spoke of the charities they have helped to support in 2018 including Whitchurch in Lights, Care 4 Careers, Bere Hill Nursing Home and St John’s Red Cross. Through Southern Co-op’s free Bereavement Centre, they have provided four study days for local nursing homes and day centres on counselling and bereavement techniques.
