Earlier this month, easyStorage Dorset partnered with Lewis-Manning Hospice Care to help out with their Christmas tree collection campaign earlier this month.

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity which was established 28 years ago, providing hospice care, and other support, to patients facing life-limiting illnesses across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset, and their families.

They support nearly 500 local people, and need to raise over £1.6m every year to continue to serve them.

Their Christmas tree collection service has proved both successful and popular and 2021 was its third year: users were urged to support the hospice by registering for their tree collection.

easyStorage was contacted by a member of the Lewis-Manning team who asked if the team would be willing to help out. They had become aware of easyStorage’s arrival in the Dorset area through social media posts and a local door to door leafleting campaign locally.

When the easyStorage team heard that the hospice needed help,they were delighted to donate two days of their time to collect real Christmas trees that were finished with, and transport them to be sustainably disposed (Wednesday 6th and Friday 8th January).

It was great for them to join other local businesses keen to support the hospice.

For example, local company Eco Sustainable Solutions carried out chipping on their site for free. Once the trees are put through their shredder, they are processed and made available to buy as compost.

Dorset Tree Surgeons also volunteered manpower and provided a chipper for a day.

And even the Dorset Chamber of Commerce helped spread the word.

All people needed to do to get their trees collected was register on the Just Helping website, make a donation to the hospice and leave their tree outside on the day of collection, thereby avoiding living with pine leaves in the car for the next six months!

All three easyStorage Dorset team members assisted with the effort (Anita,Spencer and Connor). They all took turns carrying out the differing tasks: whilst one put the tree in the van, the other would place a leaflet through the customer's door confirming that their tree had been collected. 

But the star of the show was, as always, the unmissable easyTruck. Dorset’s truck is Susie (following the easyStorage tradition of being named after their first customer). The team temporarily removed the empty storage pods from Susie to maximise the space inside. This way they were able to make over 40 collections before having to unload.

(The vans are bespoke built to accommodate the storage pods    securely. easyStorage is a different form of self-storage in that the easyStorage team collects your goods from your home premises, helps efficient loading and packing, and can even pack for you!)

The team would not hesitate to help Lewis-Manning again with their Christmas tree collection. It was a fulfilling and fun way to get Susie out on the road and a good time was had by all.

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