What a cracking gift!

11 May 2020 01:49
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Key workers and vulnerable people in Bolton have received a sweet treat of almost 3,000 chocolate eggs.

Confectionary giant Nestle delivered the free chocolate treats to Bolton council’s humanitarian response hub, which has been set up to help people in need during the coronavirus crisis.

Council staff and volunteers at the hub, based at Trinity Retail Park, are coordinating delivery of food parcels to residents who have been forced to ‘shield’ as part of the virus lockdown.

Now they will be receiving an extra sweet treat in their next delivery thanks to the generosity of Nestle which is donating £4m of products to NHS staff, other key workers, vulnerable people and foodbanks across the UK.

Frontline staff working in the NHS in Bolton, local care homes, police and fire stations, special needs schools, store and delivery drivers and bin collectors will also be sent some of the eggs.

Council leader David Greenhalgh said: “From everyone in Bolton I would like to say a huge thank you to Nestle for this generous donation. They will provide a much-needed boost to those receiving food parcels via the hub.

“I’m also pleased there will enough left over to make some available to our key workers who are doing such amazing work at the moment to keep us safe and well.”

This year, Easter fell just a couple of weeks into the lockdown which meant sales of chocolate eggs plummeted.

With manufacturers and retailers left with millions of pounds of unsold stock, many are now donating the unwanted items to those in need, as well as workers who are helping communities through the crisis.

 

 

Dave Bagley of local charity Urban Outreach, which is coordinating volunteers at the hub, added: “Every day, the team working at the hub sends out supplies of food and other essentials to people in need across the borough.

“Together, we are providing a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable people in Bolton who are most at risk during the current emergency.

“It’s nice to be able to include some treats for people in their food hampers as well as sending people all the basics they need. The Easter Eggs provided by Nestle have been a much welcome addition to our stores.”

Anyone who has been asked to stay at home and avoid face-to-face contact (shielding), or who cannot get support from family or friends, can call the council on 01204 337221.

The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm, and Saturday, 9am to 1.30pm.

Anyone with spare food or other essential items which you would like to donate to the humanitarian response hub can take them to Unit 4 (former Staples Store), Trinity Retail Park, Bradford Street, Bolton BL2 1HY.

The hub is particularly in need of tinned fruit and puddings. Donations can be dropped off on weekdays between 10am and 4pm.

 

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