PRESS RELEASE

From free hairdressing time in Karlskrona and Christmas food in Trelleborg to Christmas gift helpers and Saturday get-togethers in Linghem - now Coca-Cola recognizes and supports Swedish Christmas heroes who do the little extra for their surroundings. The goal of the project is to highlight people who create the best kind of magic and inspire more people to do more for their surroundings. Five initiatives have now been selected and the work to give more people the opportunity to experience a good Christmas has begun.

This Christmas, Coca-Cola in Sweden wants to highlight people around the country who create the best kind of magic and make the world a little kinder. To do so, we have searched with light and lantern for passionate souls and initiatives that in a particularly fine way represent the magic of Christmas and contribute to a kinder world.

- Finding people and initiatives around Sweden who do that extra thing for their surroundings has been incredibly inspiring and gratifying. There are so many people working hard to spread Christmas magic out there and we have chosen to pay tribute to the five that we think stand out this year. We also hope to inspire more people to bring out their inner Santa Claus this Christmas, says Sara Andersson, brand manager for The Coca-Cola Company in Sweden.

A jury consisting of representatives from Coca-Cola and the Red Cross has selected five initiatives to support and draw attention to this Christmas so that they can do even more and inspire more people to do good deeds. It resulted in five fantastic zealots who all give of their time, energy and commitment to spread warmth, light and kindness around them. These are Helene Andersson and Lördagsträffen in Linghem, Sandra Nordin and the initiative Helhjärtat in Norr, chef Jimmy Brorsson in Trelleborg, Julhjälpen in Stockholm and hairdresser Nimet Skoro in Karlskrona.

Helene Andersson – The Saturday meeting in Linghem

The Saturday meeting in Linghem in Östergötland works to counteract involuntary loneliness and does a fantastic job where people from all over Östergötland have the opportunity to participate in musical performances and coffee sessions as well as lectures, quizzes and exhibitions. Helene started the Saturday meeting to create a context where everyone feels welcome and seen regardless of age and background.

Wholeheartedly in the North

In 2019, Sandra Nordin founded the non-profit organization Helhjärtat i Norr, which helps financially vulnerable people and families in Norrbotten. The initiative is from the beginning a Facebook group that Sandra started as she herself has been insured and knows how tough it is. The group became a non-profit organization that today consists of over 30 volunteers and 7,000 members. The aim of the initiative is to help those who really need it, and the help can be anything from food, hygiene products, clothes and furniture to Christmas presents, Christmas sweets and food for the Christmas table. Helhjärtat i Norr also organizes friend evenings for both children and adults. The goal of the initiative is to create a more equal society without gaps.

Jimmy Brorsson

Jimmy Brorsson is the generous and caring chef who runs the Victoria salon in Trelleborg. When he has food left over from the restaurant, he always makes sure it is given to someone who needs a little extra, and this Christmas season we want to support Jimmy so that more people can get a proper meal this winter.

Christmas help in Stockholm

Julhjälpen in Stockholm is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 by Nathalie Guardia that aims to help people and families who lack resources before Christmas. Nathalie has previously had experience of being worried about both Christmas food and Christmas presents, so she wants to support and help other people. Every year, Julhjälpen in Stockholm collects and distributes Christmas presents and Christmas food to families and people who need it. In the Facebook group, those in need have the opportunity to go in and wish for specific Christmas presents that Christmas Help helps with.

Nimet Skoro in Karlskrona

Nimet Skoro runs the hairdressing salon Hairbynimet & Co in Karlskrona and since 2016 she has offered free haircuts to those who need a little something extra on the day before Christmas Eve. Those who get their hair cut at the salon on this day will also receive a grocery bag and Christmas present. The initiative began in 2015–16 when there were many unaccompanied children and families who came to Sweden. Nimet then started offering free haircuts as a way to get into the community. Over time, this developed into the annual free haircut around Christmas that she does today with her colleague Josefine Jerkestrand.

The support for the initiatives is provided by Coca-Cola in Sweden in consultation with the initiators. Every year, all employees at Coca-Cola have a number of days to spend on volunteer work, and as part of the project, employees have opportunities to use their volunteer hours and actively participate in and support local initiatives. All initiatives will also be highlighted in Coca-Cola Sweden's various channels. The initiatives are in no way organized and/or led by Coca-Cola, but Coca-Cola only assists with useful resources and support. The work is ongoing during December 2023 and January 2024.

If you want to read more about the initiatives and meet the people behind them, see the links below:

• Helene Andersson – The Saturday meeting in Linghem
• Wholeheartedly in the North
• Jimmy Brorsson
• Christmas help in Stockholm
• Nimet Skoro in Karlskrona