Alternative gift scheme generates thousands

AN ALTERNATIVE Christmas giftgiving scheme organised by Hinckley and District Churches Together raised £14,300 for charities and good causes working across the borough and around the world.

It takes the amount generated by Hinckley AlterNativity in the 12 years it has been operating to more than £132,000.

The scheme allows people to buy meangingful gifts for people in need at home and abroad, through charitable organisations, which are given in the name of a loved-one who might otherwise receive something unwanted or unnecessary.

In 2017, around 20 organisations offered more than 30 gift selections ranging from pocketmoney priced gifts of toothbrush and toothpaste for a resident of Lawrence House hostel for homeless young people, to an hour’s Marie Curie nursing care at the home of a terminally ill patient.

A launch day sale in November generated more than £7,000 with the rest of the gifts sold via a mail order scheme run from St Peter’s Priory on Leicester Road.

Father Frank Daly of St Peter’s RC Church said: “While this is a remarkable achievement, our main puirpose is to change people’s attitude to spending at Christmas, which is still a strug- gle.

“The money raised came from 230 orders, so the people using our facility are clearly serious about doing their Christmas shopping in this way and not just giving money to charities, which is precisely what is supposed to happen.

“We thank them most warmly for their ongoing and devoted commitment to a much needed change to how we ‘do’ Christmas.”