Sign in
Secret Santa
Christmas is a time for kindness, connection and community, but unfortunately many people and their families struggle over the winter months. This year, our Secret Santa campaign is all about helping those who need it most across Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.
You can make a difference by donating through your local Lincolnshire Co-op branch. Each of our food stores, pharmacies and travel branches will host dedicated Secret Santa collection points over the Christmas period. Here, you can help make a difference by dropping off items to support local people in need.
Whether it’s a family facing food insecurity, a child who might otherwise go without a present, or someone struggling to access essential toiletries, your donation can bring warmth and joy this festive season.
Find out more about how your donation will support people in your area below, and how you can make a difference.
Gifts and toys donations
From 1st to 30th November, our travel branches will act as toy donation points for those wishing to spread some Christmas joy, ensuring that every child gets a present this Christmas.
Within our 13 travel branches (and Messingham Food Store), Christmas trees will be decorated with gift tags that included details such as age and gender, which customers can take away, choose a suitable present, and return to the branch, so that it could be sent to the branch’s local toy appeal.
Holidaymakers have also been supporting the toy bank appeal by opting to donate a minimum of £1 towards the cause when booking their trips away and raising an incredible £10,134. This money will be used to purchase gifts for the local toy appeal that we are supporting.
Foodbank donations
Food banks provide vital support for people and according to Trussell Trust 1 in 14 households used a food provision in 2024, which can easily be someone that you know.
Each of our food stores support a local food provision and they need your help to give a treat to those in need at Christmas and also replenish their stocks for the new year.
You can help by donating non-perishable, in-date food items such as:
- Tinned fruit or veg
- Tinned meat or fish
- UHT milk
- Pasta
- Cereals
Or treat someone to make their Christmas special and donate items such as:
- Stuffing mix
- Christmas pudding
- Biscuits
- Crackers
Sanitary and toiletry donations
Across our local area, there are people struggling to pay for sanitary and toiletry items, which many of us take for granted.
Over the festive season, we're encouraging people to help spread the joy of Christmas to those with a lack of access to basic hygiene products, to help them feel clean and comfortable during the winter months.
You can donate items directly to the collection points in our pharmacies, which will then go to an assigned local charity or community group and distributed to those in need.
Most needed items include:
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Shampoo and shower gel
- Sanitary items
- Deodorant
Spread warmth and cheer this festive season by becoming a Secret Santa for someone in need.
You can get involved by:
- Donating essential food items in your local food store.
- Dropping sanitary and toiletry products into collection points within our pharmacies.
- Donating a present to someone who may otherwise go without at one of our travel branches.
