Argos drives huge donation
20,000 items of Argos stock from across the country have just been transported to Milton in Oxfordshire as the UK’s leading multi-channel retailer shows its support for In Kind Direct.
Three of Argos’ busiest Distribution Centres (DCs) in Bridgwater, Basildon and Corby have been delivering goods all week to the DHL Exel Supply Chain DC, the base for the In Kind Direct distribution operation in Oxfordshire. In Kind Direct is a charity that co-ordinates and encourages manufacturers and retailers to donate high quality goods for use by good causes. Products spanning the full range of the Argos catalogue, from coffee tables to the latest in mp3 players, have been donated to benefit In Kind’s UK-wide network of charities and not-for-profit organisations.
It has taken eight deliveries over a period of four days, which saw the arrival of nearly two hundred pallets at the In Kind depot – using up around 10% of their warehouse space. Argos distribution driver, Kevin Rainbow, delivered half of the stock including the final batch of furniture and gadgets. Proudly representing Argos after three years with the company he said: “I am pleased to present the last of these deliveries to In Kind Direct on behalf of everyone at Argos who has worked together to make this fantastic donation possible. When I was told the kind of organisations this stock will be going to help I was very pleased to be a part of it.”
The donation is one of the largest In Kind Direct has received since it was founded by the HRH Prince of Wales in 1996. Robin Boles, Chief Executive of In Kind, was on hand at the DC to oversee the last of the deliveries and thank Kevin and his co-workers at Argos. She adds: “We are very grateful for the staunch continuing support of Argos. What makes their donations particularly fantastic is the huge range they give us. Since In Kind works with every size and type of charity all over the UK, the impact a company like Argos truly provides smiles all around for hundreds of people.”
Over the coming months, the goods will be reorganised into packs at the DC. The packs will be shown on the In Kind Direct online catalogue which means their charity partners will see a steady flow of new items from Argos and other donators over that period. The charities can select the packs they need from the site, which are then delivered to their doors by In Kind Direct’s transport partner DHL Exel Supply Chain.
One of the first organisations to benefit from the Argos donation is Darnall Community Nursery. Based in Sheffield, the community group are moving into a new centre at the end of April and required help from a specialist organisation who can fulfil the more unusual requirements that other charity organisations are unable to supply.
Linda Edwards, Co-ordinator at Darnall Community Nursery, adds: “We are a community group providing childcare, family support and training to our local community and have found the equipment and resources from In Kind Direct an enormous support to our work.
We are about to move into a Children’s Centre with a large open outdoor space, so the gardening equipment and outdoor resources from Argos has come at just the right time. With the support of In Kind Direct and Argos we will be able to incorporate the children’s ideas to transform their outdoor play area into an exciting learning experience. I know it is uncommon for a children’s nursery to request a chainsaw and gardening tools, but they will be invaluable for recycling the felled trees to make furniture and play areas for the children.”
