Lincolnshire’s charity shops are appealing for donations of toys before Christmas in an attempt to bring festive joy to cash-strapped families.
In a plea echoed on social media by Police and Crime Commissioner Jon Evison, shop operators say they get lots of toys after Christmas – but that’s too late.
Said one charity shop manager: “I wish people would clear out their children’s old toys in the lead up to Christmas rather than after, because we always see a number of parents in the days before Christmas looking for toys for their little ones.
“There’s very rarely anything in just before, but we are inundated with toys in the days afterwards.
“If you know your child is going to get lots of presents from Father Christmas this year, by clearing out your cupboards a few days early you could make another child’s Christmas a lot more special too. “