CHRISTMAS is a time for giving and Essex Police wants to brighten Christmas for vulnerable children who may otherwise receive little or nothing.
A spokesperson said: “And we are appealing to our communities to help us make this happen by donating small gifts which we can pass on to those who will benefit the most.
“Whether you want to shop online and send in your gift or bring an unwrapped present to one of our COVID-Secure police stations, we hope we’ve made it easy for you to take part”.
Temporary Superintendent Lily Benbow brought the Community Christmas Giving Tree initiative with her from London when she joined us as Tendring district commander last year.
“We donated approximately 1,300 gifts to vulnerable children across Tendring. We were simply bowled over by the generosity of our community.
Our colleagues in Children Social Care helped us select our most vulnerable children and, together, we co-ordinated delivery before Christmas.
“Our officers, staff and volunteers worked with partner agencies to shop for presents, allocate, wrap and deliver them. I even ended up cooking at a local Christmas party, which only happened because I was chatting with the chef while we wrapped gifts.
“Sadly, we can’t invite volunteers in to help our officers and staff to help us with the wrapping this year as, like everyone, we’ve had to adapt what we do.
“So we’ve gone online and created Amazon Wish Lists for each district so that you can still donate, although some of our police stations are open if you want to deliver in person. Even though 2020 has been tough year for all, we won’t be deterred from giving children who would otherwise have nothing, a gift at Christmas.”
This year we are again working with partners in each district to identify those children who will most benefit from your generosity on Christmas Day.
Here’s how you can help
Buy your gift and deliver it to one of our police stations between 9am and 5pm on any day of the week up to and including Saturday 19 December. Remember it must be unwrapped and suitable for a child from newborn up to the age of 17.
If you want to donate wrapping paper for our officers and staff to wrap your present, that would be welcome, too.
Or you can order online and get your present delivered straight to your local police station. Each district has created an Amazon Wish List, if you would like to order that way.
Basildon https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1OV62QKNUI0
Basildon Police Station SS14 1EJ
Braintree https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/23XLNE33X7XUZ
Braintree Police Station CM7 3DJ
Brentwood https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/I6VET8HSLSHL
Castle Point https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1OV62QKNUI0
Chelmsford https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/32OOAOBAZEE65
Essex Police College, Essex Police HQ
CM2 6DA (for postal deliveries)
CM2 6DS (for deliveries in person)
Colchester https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2G6Y9P0V94MF5
Colchester Police Station CO3 3BU
Epping https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/33PGISK60G1WPHarlow https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/21CFAX76R6V0W
Harlow Police Station CM20 1HG
Maldon https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/32OOAOBAZEE65
Rochford https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/29A89IEESTZQT
Southend https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/29A89IEESTZQT
Southend Police Station SS2 6ES
Tendring https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/18CFL4562E0D6
Clacton Police Station CO15 1ET
Uttlesford https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/23XLNE33X7XUZ
Hi where can you take a gift for a child in the Rochford District?