Wigan pub bosses say cheers for toy donations

Sharon and Carl Connolly may not be able to serve drinkers at the Balcarres Arms in Haigh, but they have found a great way to use their bar instead.

They have appealed for donations of toys and other gifts for children in struggling families this Christmas.

And the presents have been pouring in, with the Copperas Lane pub now full of colourful treats to be distributed in time for the festive season. Sharon said: “We had a few people coming in saying they don’t know how they are going to manage this year and they are struggling. I had a chat with my husband and we thought we would help people while we are closed.

“I started putting posts on Facebook and sending messages to my friends. The response has been absolutely unbelievable.”

Pub regulars and members of the public have donated gifts, along with members of St David’s Church, a knit and natter group and businesses.

The items are all new or nearly new, so suitable to be given as presents.

Sharon said: “We have gift sets, we have toys, chocolates, perfume sets, hundreds of DVDs, handbags, dolls, books - there’s everything. The main room of the pub is full of stuff.”

The presents will be distributed through local organisations Daffodils Dreams and One House community centre in Aspull, which have discretely identified families who could benefit.

The appeal is the first launched by Sharon and Carl since they took over the pub in May, but they hope to do more to help the community in future.

One idea is collecting enough chocolate eggs to fill the bar at Easter.

Sharon said: “Hopefully moving forward we will do an auction for One House, which is our local charity.”

Christmas presents are still being collected and can be taken to the pub until Saturday, December 12.

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