A SAINSBURY’S store in Rayleigh Weir recently donated nearly £6,000 to Havens Hospices thanks to the support of its customers in the local community.

In June last year, the store announced that Havens Hospices would be their Local Charity partner for the next 12 months, following votes from customers.

The Local Charity partner scheme, which launched in May 2009, has seen thousands of charities across the country benefit from Sainsbury’s colleagues raising funds and awareness of their chosen charities.

During the last 12 months, activities at the store have included a Halloween cake competition, a member of the store ran the London Marathon as well as many bucket collections. The store raised £5,947 for the charity.

Sainsbury’s Rayleigh Weir store manager Kevin Bayles said: “When our customers helped us to select Havens Hospices as our new Local Charity Partner, we knew this was a charity that would really capture the hearts and minds of our colleagues”.

Fair Havens provides vital nursing care and support to adults and their families in Southend, Castle Point and Rochford, whilst Little Havens provides care and support to life-limited children and their families.