Santa’s post box post-lockdown brings smiles back to town
FRESHNEY Place has unveiled how children can still see Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas despite Covid-19 restrictions. With Covid-safe shopping an absolute priority as shops reopen following lockdown, the centre has been working hard behind the scenes to create a festive atmosphere that won’t compromise the important social distancing measures in place.
To protect both Santa and his visitors this year, the magical grotto has been transformed into a festive Post Office where children will be able to post their own special Christmas letter to Santa.
In addition to the post box - which is open every day - children will be able to see Santa at his counter each weekend in the run up to Christmas as he works long hours to get everything ready for the big day.
If he’s not too busy there might even be a chance to get a picture of him working hard to make up for lost time during the lockdown.
Santa will be working in his Post Office every Saturday and Sunday 11am-3pm from now up to December 20.
Children are asked to include their name and address in their letter and post it before December 17 if they would like to receive a reply from Santa.
This year, following the pandemic there is also a special appeal to adults and children to bring an extra Christmas card, picture or letter to post at Santa’s Post Office. Working in partnership with the local organisation Friendship at
Home, these letters will be collected and distributed to a person in the area who may be living alone, offering some Christmas cheer and community support.
People are asked to drop off these letters by December 17 and clearly mark the envelope ‘Friendship at Home’.
Amanda Austin, centre director for Freshney Place, said: “This year has been unlike any other and people have endured some real hardship.
“Of course we want to be able to offer our customers a festive shopping g experience and we have made some modifications to be able to do this in a Covid secure manner. “We also wanted to acknowledge the hardship the lockdown has imposed on so many during the pandemic and the elderly in particular, many of whom have become isolated during the lockdown periods.
“We are really hoping families and children will share some festive cheer by posting a Christmas card or picture at Santa’s Post Office that can then be distributed to a person in our region.”