Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacies have been taking in donations for local charities through its Secret Santa scheme to help those struggling over Christmas. 

The Co-op society announced this week (December 30) that 72 different charities have benefitted from toiletry and sanitary items donated to its pharmacies, food donations to its food stores, and toys offered to its travel branches. 

It confirmed hundreds of items had been donated to its pharmacies, alongside 3,345 presents gifted to fourteen toy banks. 

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Pharmacies in Swineshead, Kirton and Donington have supported Haven Domestic Abuse Service as its chosen charity to collect toiletry and sanitary items for, with 71 adults and 106 children welcomed into its refuge in the last year. 

Funding and communications manager Chloe Waters thanked those who donated towards the Secret Santa scheme at the pharmacies.  

“Every donation will make a huge difference over Christmas to the families we are supporting, especially when providing them with toiletry hampers upon arrival to our refuge,” she said. 

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The society held extra donation drives to raise more funds including a food, hygiene and toy drive at the Lincolnshire Showground’s annual members meeting. 

Lincolnshire Co-op community manager Sam Turner said it had been “wonderful yet emotional to see the generous response from our communities, and how everyone can come together to help those in need provide for their families over Christmas”. 

“Thank you to everyone who has made a donation, to our colleagues and volunteers for using their own time to help wrap presents, and to our outlets for providing drop-off points” he said. 

Read more: Pharmacist raises £1.5k in memory of her father 

There was more Christmas giving in pharmacy as Northern Irish community pharmacy chain Bradley’s Pharmacy donated gifts to Foyle Hospice who offers palliative care services in Derry. 

And Uber offered £30 worth of free rides and meals for UK health staff working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.