Wigan shoppers already buying Christmas decorations to help good causes

A caring couple who raise thousands of pounds each year for good causes say Wiganers have already been stocking up on decorations and gifts for Christmas.
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The festivities may still be two months away, but uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has led to customers buying from Janice and Justin Hinden in their droves.

The couple, who live in Poolstock, make the items each year to sell so they can buy food, toys and other items needed by Billinge-based charity The Storehouse and Wigan Council’s social services department.

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They did not know if they would be able to hold their usual stalls in Wigan town centre and in supermarkets this winter due to the pandemic.

Janice and Justin Hinden have already sold out of some of their most popular festive itemsJanice and Justin Hinden have already sold out of some of their most popular festive items
Janice and Justin Hinden have already sold out of some of their most popular festive items

But fortunately they got permission to hold a stall in The Galleries shopping centre so their fund-raising could go ahead.

The couple have also been selling items via their Facebook page, named A Christmas Wish, and set up stalls in their garden.

Justin said: “A lot of people have said the front garden is fantastic because they don’t need to go to Wigan, they can come to the garden and park up and buy here. We have done a lot better than we thought.”

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He believes people are buying Christmas decorations earlier this year, with some popular items already sold out.

Justin said: “I think everyone is scared of coming to a lockdown again where they can’t buy any more and I think they just want to get it over and done with and buy Christmas things now.”

The Hindens will return to The Galleries today, but no further stalls have been arranged yet as Justin is due to have surgery shortly.

They will continue to sell items through their Facebook page and share details of any future stalls.

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