Staff from APT and Travelmarvel cancelled their secret Santa this year and instead donated hundreds of pounds to Chiltern Foodbank.
The river cruise, small ship and escorted touring operator said it felt like this year was the right time to replace its traditional secret Santa with something more altruistic, as the cost-of-living crisis squeeze’s people’s incomes and increases the reliance on foodbanks.
Staff usually spend £5 on their secret Santa gift, but the operator said its employees dug deep and raised £360 for Chiltern Foodbank, which was chosen due to its proximity to the APT and Travelmarvel office.
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The donation was then matched by OneTomorrow, the operator’s not-for-profit charitable fund, raising a total of £720.
Staff used the money to buy essential toiletries and food, as well as festive treats including chocolates and Christmas puddings.
The project was organised by APT & Travelmarvel’s sales and product manager Leticia Prieto.
“We wanted to do something more heartfelt for our secret Santa this year, and to show our support for this incredibly important project which is helping so many people through these difficult times,” she said.
“Thanks to the generosity of the team, we are thrilled to be part of making Christmas a little more special for our community.”
Diane Rutter, coordinator at Chiltern Foodbank, added: “A huge thank you to all who have made this possible – this is fantastic.”