Still time to donate to town’s annual toy and food appeal

DONATIONS are coming in for the Sure Start Christmas Appeal.

People in Hinckley are dropping off toys in the bins that have been provided at schools, supermarkets and businesses in the town.

Generous givers donate new toys and food while the team at Sure Start and The Food Bank work together to provide much needed support to families that would otherwise miss out at Christmas.

Referrals come from the health teams, council workers, education, social care and Early Help teams, and Sure Start and the Food Bank work together to make up parcels to be delivered or collected from local points in time for Christmas.

You can help by donating new toys or dried or tinned food items in one of the appeal bins or by adding an extra item on your weekly shopping to use as a donation.

The toys go to children aged from birth to 16 with some families also receiving a food parcel.

The appeal is being organised by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s Sure Start Children’s Centre programme in partnership with Hinckley Foodbank, the Salvation Army and other groups, including The Hinckley Times.

Last year over 300 children received a toy from the appeal.

Nationally there are growing numbers of families relying on Foodbanks and community support just to survive and Christmas brings additional pressure and anxieties for parents trying to do the best for their families.

Parent Voice reps go round to the bins regularly to empty them and to take the toys and gifts to a storage facility.

Bins are available at Morrisons, Asda, Tesco on Hawley Road, Hinckley Hub, Westfield Infant School, Barwell Academy, St Bernard’s Day Nursery on Clarendon Road and Asquith Windmill Day Nursery on Wheatfield Way.

There will also be collection points at Burbage Day Nursery on Hinckley Road, the Castle Street branch of Hinckley and Rugby Building Society, Hinckley Library and at The Salvation Army.

They will be in place until November.

For more information about the appeal, contact Sure Start on 0116 305 5601.