COULD you spare a present for one of hundreds of children in need this Christmas?
This festive season, Freshney Place has teamed up with Home-Start and the NSPCC to offer generous shoppers the chance to give a gift to a child facing a chilling time this Christmas.
The Grimsby shopping centre has launched its annual Have A Heart campaign, which will run until Wednesday, December 12.
Shoppers will be able to visit a specially created tree within Freshney Place, where more than 300 tags will detail the age and gender of each child in need.
They will then buy a gift for that child and take it unwrapped, along with the tag to the customer service desk within the shopping centre where it will be given to the charities.
Freshney Place director Amanda Austin said: "We are delighted to host the Have A Heart campaign, and we know from last year that we have some incredibly generous customers and local businesses.
"We hope that this year will be even better than last year, and every child in the region will have a gift to open on Christmas Day.
"We have 348 children on our tree with a variety of ages ranging from newborns to 16-year-olds.
"This is our fifth year running the campaign and each time we are so well supported.
"People can buy whatever they like, including toys, and board games are also very good.
"Anything that doesn't need a battery is better unless that is bought also."
Home-Start is a charity which offers support to families with children who may be struggling with emotional or financial issues, or could be finding it difficult to cope.
By offering support in the family's own home, and initiatives such as Have A Heart, Home-Start tries to ensure that every child wakes up to at least one surprise at Christmas.
Scheme manager Tracey Ruddock, from Home-Start East Lindsey, added: "The Have A Heart Appeal has made a real difference to the families supported by our charity in the past so we are thrilled to receive the appeal's support again.
"The children supported by Home-Start East Lindsey may face a difficult Christmas for many reasons.
"The fantastic gifts given from the shoppers of Freshney Place really help our families provide the Christmas they would like for their children and their kindness is greatly appreciated."
For further information on the charities in the Have A Heart campaign visit www.nspcc.org.uk or www.home-starteastlindsey.org.uk. For details on events at Freshney Place, visit www.freshneyplace.co.uk.
