People living at Button House in Hackbridge have been busy welcoming the local community this month, as they volunteer their time to collect items for their annual charity reverse advent calendar.

It is the second year in which residents have given their time to the initiative, collecting much needed items for the local Sutton Night Watch charity. The cause offers support to, and raises awareness of people who are homeless within the borough, ensuring that no homeless person goes to sleep on an empty stomach.

Last year’s efforts raised a generous number of donations which were gifted by residents, staff, and supporters from the local community – a benchmark the team hopes to smash with this year’s efforts as Karl Mlynarczyk, General Manager at Button House, explained: “The reverse advent calendar is one of our much-loved traditions here at Button House and the support we receive from homeowners and locals in the area is truly heartwarming.

“We work so hard to give back, finding things that the Sutton Night Watch really need – that’s things like tinned fruit to shower gel and even selection box treats. The local community have been amazing in bringing such treats in, but honestly, we and the Sutton Night Watch welcome anything that any local people can spare as we strive to help out at this time of year.

“A first for this year’s collection are some beautifully handknitted items by Carole Baker who runs our Craft & Chat classes here at Button House. Carole and her talented crochet team have donated hats and scarfs they knitted themselves to go alongside the many items of food we’ve already collected.

“We also have members of the community who’ve been putting small items aside from their food shops and are bringing them in as a collective donation on our cut-off of December the 1st – we can’t wait to welcome them and receive their kind offerings.”

Once the team at Button House have finalised their collection of donations, the items will be delivered to the Sutton Night Watch, where the charity will then distribute the goods to those in dire need this Christmastime.

Karl concludes: “We’re still calling out for support from our local community and we are kindly asking for any donations of non-perishable food items and toiletries. Items can be handed in to our reception at Button House, 6 Spinning Wheel Way, Hackbridge, up until the 1st of December. We’re welcoming donations that are either handed in daily or collectively at the end of the month. Every item helps, so please don’t worry if you miss a particular item that we have requested on the calendar – any help is truly appreciated, thank you.”

Button House is a vibrant later-living development with the pretty open green space of Beddington Park, where the River Wandle runs through, just a short walk away. Button House boasts a collection of 80 stylish apartments – comprising a range of beautiful one- and two-bedroom homes all suitably designed for those over the age of 65.

With homes available to buy, rent or part buy/part rent, the stylish development also benefits from a doctor’s surgery, pharmacy and dentist adjacent to Button House, with a Lidl supermarket opposite and a Sainsbury’s supermarket only a few minutes away. A couple of miles up the road is neighbouring Sutton which has two indoor shopping centres, a bustling high street, Sutton’s library, and all the main supermarkets. It’s also home to the renowned Royal Marsden Hospital and a satellite of the Moorfields Eye Hospital.

For those who love getting into the city – the centre of London is only 25 minutes away by train – with the station just a two minute walk from Button House, and if travelling abroad, Gatwick is a convenient 17 miles away.