KIND-hearted supermarket shoppers helped to raise £3,665.16 for various charities over the festive season.

Sainsbury's Amblecote customers dug deep when in-store collections were taking place, donating £1,406 to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, £1,035.07 to Kingswinford and Stourbridge Lions, plus a further £125.87 to Omega Care.

A carol singing weekend on December 16 and 17 raised a total of £1,098.22 for five worthy causes, while a Christmas toy appeal in aid of Dudley's Sycamore Adventure Playground saw 159 toys donated to the Dudley Council run centre, which is used by youngsters with disabilities and special educational needs, looked after children and pupils from borough schools.

Dudley News:

Amblecote store manager, Kevin Healy, alongside leaders, Amanda Hughes, Chloe Hughes and Rachel Bridgwater, with Norton Rainbows, who raised £200 carol singing for group funds

The store also donated surplus make-up to Dudley's White House Cancer Support for use during its feel-good sessions and a long-life food to Heaven's Kitchen in Dudley as well as a hamper of essentials for the people the soup kitchen supports.

Dudley News:

Bakery team leader, Lynn Dwyer, with bakery colleagues, donating essential items to people in need, supported by Heaven’s Kitchen

Twelve charities and organisations also benefited from the store's community budget, which included a gift voucher to support the Christmas party for the Brierley Hill based charity, We Love Carers.

Store manager, Kevin Healy, said: “We’re extremely grateful to our customers and colleagues for being so generous during the festive period.”