Hunstanton Mayor’s Christmas Gift Appeal 2020

Are you looking forward to Christmas? For some people this year will be especially difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Hunstanton’s Mayor Cllr Tony Bishopp has a great idea how to help those less fortunate by launching The Mayor's Christmas Gift Appeal.

The gift appeal is an opportunity for you to share your generosity with families in need by adding an extra present or two to your Christmas shopping list for someone less fortunate, and thereby giving someone a smile with a small gift for any age or gender.

The Mayor of Hunstanton Cllr Tony Bishopp stated;

“Thank you all in advance for your kind support this coming Christmas by donating to the Christmas Gift Appeal; donating a present is a wonderful gift to give and will help to put smiles back to the faces of those less fortunate in our town.

“Working alongside St Edmunds Church, the Food Bank, local Community Groups, Charities and Care Homes our voluntary elves will sort and distribute your gifts.

“It’s very important that all donated gifts are new and packaged, our voluntary elves need to know what each gift is so they know who will enjoy it the most this Christmas, so please don’t donate pre-wrapped presents.

“Once donated, all gifts will be quarantined by our teams for a COVID-19 safe period”.

Gifts are required for all: Birth - 5 years, Primary 6-8 years, Primary 9-11 years (boys & girls in all age groups), Secondary 12-16 years (Male/Female), Women’s (Mums) & Men’s (Dads), Elderly & Homeless.

Here are some ideas of what might be suitable to donate:

Dolls, teddies, toy trucks and cars, skipping ropes, small puzzles and games, dressing up or role play items.

Art and craft sets, painting sets, pens, pencils, coloured pencils, felt pens or crayons, stamping set with ink pads, notebooks & paper, calculators, colouring & picture books.

Hygiene items are also welcome . . . Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, bubble bath, shower gels, shampoo and conditioner, bath fizzer, flannels, brushes, combs and hair accessories. Other gift items that would be welcome include . . . Hats, gloves, scarves, socks, jewellery, nail polishes, cosmetics, cups, books, candles, wrapped sweets and chocolate, manicure sets etc.

Please note that items we are unable to take due to allergies are sweets or confectionery items that contain nuts, balloons and loom bands.

Drop off locations are inside the Turret Door at the Town Hall, inside the Hunstanton Community Centre, The Heacham and District Community Car Scheme Office based at the Community Centre, as well as local participating shops and churches – Just look for the marked collection boxes.

If you work with families or children who would benefit please get in touch as we would like to reach as many as possible. If you know of any resident who would benefit from a gift or would like further information please contact the Town Clerk by email at clerk@hunstantontowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01485 532402.

It need not cost a fortune, but it could help make someone’s day!

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Covid Precautions;

This Christmas will be like no other before, due to the coronavirus pandemic. We ask all members of the public wishing to donate that if you have had any of the signs or symptoms listed below in the last 14 days, then please be mindful and protect your local community by not donating at any of our drop-off points.

• Have you or anyone in your household had a temperature in the last 14 days?
• Have you or anyone in your household had a continuous cough in the last 14 days?
• Have you or anyone in your household experienced any loss or change in their sense of smell or taste in the last 14 days?
• If you or any of your family members have had contact with anyone with the above signs and symptoms of Covid-19.

The closing date for drop-off points this year is Friday 10^th December 2020.