Christmas appeal from travel agents

Lincolnshire Co-op travel branches are asking people to donate unwrapped presents to the business’ Santa’s Suitcase appeal.

This will see items passed on to families using local foodbanks in the run-up to Christmas.

Suggestions include small toys, books, puzzles, knitted items, chocolates and toiletry gift sets.

The campaign is running until Friday, December 14, and all 14 Lincolnshire Co-op travel branches are taking part in it.

In Boston, donations made to the branch at Oldrids, in Strait Bargate, will go to Boston Foodbank.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s head of travel Wayne Dennett said he hoped lots of the branches’ customers would get behind the appeal.

“Local foodbanks are providing a valued service across our area,” he said. “The gifts we’re collecting through the Santa’s Suitcase campaign will help those food banks give families who maybe struggling something extra this festive season.”

The majority of Lincolnshire Co-op’s food stores also have collection points for local food banks and community larders. Customers can donate packets, tins and dried food by leaving items inside a marked collection bin.

Boston Foodbank was founded in 2013 and operates from St Christopher’s Church Centre, in Fenside Road, Boston, and St Mary’s Church, in Station Road, Sutterton.

Last year, it gave out more than 2,000 sets of three-day emergency supplies to people in crisis.

You can learn more about Boston Foodbank at boston.foodbank.org.uk