The Centre, Livingston has launched a ’12 Days of Donation’ initiative, which starts on the 1st December, appealing to shoppers to donate much-needed items over a 12 day period, to support a local charity and two social enterprises.

A donation box will be located next to the Customer Service Desk near New Look, where items including warm coats, breakfast cereals, tinned food, tea, coffee, selection boxes, toys and cosy accessories like gloves and scarves can be dropped off.

Many of the items will be divided between River Kids, which supports children and their families in West Lothian by providing second-hand clothes and toys through their referral system and Kidzeco, located at The Centre, who help families by selling affordable high-quality pre-loved children’s clothes, toys and essential equipment.

Kidzeco reinvests in the community through their community space, Kidz n Kin, which has a café and imaginative play space at The Centre. They also run a host of classes and activities for families, including messy play and baby massage, and a weekly Food Pantry selling subsidised food items complimenting their weaning and cooking classes.

Both organisations have received ongoing support from The Centre, Livingston over the years, including help with their Christmas toy donation appeals.

All winter coats donated must be in good condition, as they will be given to Edinburgh-based social enterprise, Invisible Cities, who provide help and support to people experiencing homelessness, including training people who have experienced hardship to be a tour guide in their own city.

Donations will be delivered to River Kids and Kidzeco on the 13th December to distribute within the local community before Christmas and all of the coats will be delivered to Invisible Cities on the same day.

If you’d like to get involved in our 12 Days of Donation initiative, here’s the full list of items we’re collecting from 1st – 12th December:

Day 1 – Breakfast Cereals

Day 2 – Warm Coats (These can be preloved but need to be in a good condition)

Day 3 – Tin/Canned food such as soup

Day 4 – Toys

Day 5 – Biscuits/Sweet Treats

Day 6 – Pasta/tinned tomatoes

Day 7 – Washing Powder/ Cleaning Supplies

Day 8 – Toiletries such as Shower Gel, Deodorants

Day 9 – Selection Boxes

Day 10 – Gloves/warm items of clothing

Day 11 – Tea /Coffee

Day 12 – Tinned meat or vegetables