SHOPPERS at the Crediton Tesco store at Wellparks gave generously for the recent appeal to send donations to the Australian Red Cross and Australian RSPCA to help after the devastating bush fires that have been plaguing the country, displacing and killing people and animals in their wake.

Collection buckets were placed by the store’s exit and Customer Service Desk in addition to the Petrol Filling Station and Customer Cafe for a week and, to help raise the final total, members of the Crediton Boniface Rotary Club attended and helped with a Bag Packing session.

The collection raised a tremendous £1,014.91 which will be transferred in Australian Dollars and split between the organisations and sent directly to their websites.

The store’s Community Champion, Andrew Drayton, revealed that whilst there had been discussions to establish if anything could be done it was customers and colleagues that were the drivers of the final decision.

He said: “We had thought about setting up something to help out what has been a horrific situation for those involved, but when customers and our colleagues within the store started asking us if there was anything we could do that then sealed the deal for us to get going.”

To maximise the opportunity the store contacted the Crediton Boniface Rotary Group who, as part of a global network of organisations, were happy to help out for a community situated on the other side of the world.

Andrew continued: “Having those extra collectors for the final two days, especially as Rotary members know many people in and around the Crediton area, really helped to bolster that final total and push it over the £1,000 mark. Thank you to everyone from Rotary who gave up some time to come along and join in.”

One remarkable aspect of the appeal was how many people had a direct reason for donating; a connection to the country and areas involved.

Andrew was surprised that, in a town in the middle of Devon, so many had a personal reason to make their contribution.

He explained: “The Bag Packing aspect of the appeal, while adding a significant amount to the total also allowed us time to talk to our customers and listen to them relate to us why they felt, in some cases compelled, to help out.

"Many had family or friends that had been affected, some had spent time on holiday in the areas and one gentleman had even been a Fire Safety Officer for Sydney.

"It really brought home that even though we are, literally, half a world away, the connections and empathies of our community had been touched by the scenes witnessed across the news and internet.”

For the total to reach more than £1,000, when arranged at short notice, was seen as a success and Andrew was quick to praise the store’s customers for their response, finishing by saying: “At our store we work hard to do whatever we can to help out in our immediate area so to have this sort of collection is a bit of a departure from our norm. However, the generosity, kindness and humanity of our customers shone through yet again.”ORDER YOUR DIGITAL EDITION HERE