AN ANDOVER store has launched a campaign to help those in need over Christmas.

Sainsbury’s Andover North and Argos has is backing the new Help to Brighten a Million Christmases campaign to encourage one million food and new toy donations in stores across the UK.

The initiative expands on the stores’ year-round food bank scheme and will be run in partnership with Andover Food Bank to distribute donated items to communities in time for Christmas.

A group of National Citizen Service (NCS) graduates have played a major role to help kick-start the campaign, inventing new on-shelf labels to highlight priority products for donation.

The teens spotted that customers were noticing the food bank donation bins after finishing their shop, meaning it was too late to purchase products for donation. As part of a social action project organised through the NCS programme this summer, the teenagers created a dedicated shelf edge label to remind customers of high priority items during their shop.

As Sainsbury’s Andover North food donation scheme runs year-round, the labels will continue to remain in stores after the December 16, becoming a permanent fixture.

Deborah Clark, Sainsbury’s community affairs manager said: “We’re really excited to be expanding on our food donation programme this Christmas. Christmas is a time for giving and we hope our customers and local charities get on board and help us to reach our target of one million donations, to help brighten the lives of those less fortunate in the community."