Car showroom team continues Nas Khan’s legacy of supporting North East children in need

After the unexpected death of businessman and philanthropist Nas Khan OBE, the staff team at Kia Stockton have committed to continuing his legacy supporting The Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal. This December is the 20th year Mr Khan would have supported the appeal.

Across the North East, Mr Khan made sure there were collection points at his branches as part of Jennings Motor Group so that customers could donate new toys to the Church and charity’s gift appeal. His work helped The Salvation Army to ensure that children who would otherwise not receive a gift on Christmas morning would wake up to a present.

Stockton Salvation Army minister Major Michael Barker, who co-leads the church on Palmerston Street (TS18 1NU) with his wife Major Nicola Barker, said: “We’re thankful to Nas Khan for his support for our appeal over the past 19 years – remembrance of his kindness and the positive impact on families in the North East is a fitting tribute to him. We’re also grateful to the Kia Stockton team for their continued support in this our 20th year of partnership.

Christmas can be a tough time for families who are struggling to make ends meet and they can feel especially isolated from celebrations. However, the generous donations from Kia customers and the team at Stockton Kia have been valuable in bringing hope to children.

“As a Church and charity, we’re inspired to reach out to people who are in need or are excluded because we’ve accepted God’s extravagant offer of love, hope and welcome through his son, Jesus. We’re grateful that people have captured this vision of hope over the past 19 years and for the generosity they have shown – it’s really made all the difference in lives in the North East.”

Kia Stockton manager Steve Flack said: “For the past 19 years Nas supported The Salvation Army’s work with families in crisis at Christmas and we have looked forward to encouraging our customers to help this work. This year would have marked our 20th anniversary supporting the appeal. It makes me feel good that we’re continuing Nas’s charity work – we’re doing it for him as we believe he’d want us to keep it going.

“Nas was a loving, caring man and also a great man for whom to work and I’m privileged to be continuing his work and philanthropy at Kia Stockton.”

Kia Stockton will be collecting toys for the Christmas Present Appeal until 14 December 2018 and Stockton Salvation Army will still be receiving gifts at its site until 17 December. Gifts donated will support children in the Stockton and Middlesbrough area. Mr Khan’s wife, Naila, will be presenting the gifts to The Salvation Army.