Food and drink worth £600 sent to International Bomber Command Centre

Community retailer Lincolnshire Co-op is donating food and drink worth over £600 to an iconic Lincolnshire site hit by a burglary.

Thieves took more than £2,000 of property from the International Bomber Command Centre (pictured).

Food and drink for an open day involving four elderly veterans was stolen, along with items such as trestle tables and petrol generators, and a wreath was even destroyed.

After liaising with the centre to find out what was needed, Lincolnshire Co-op is today, Friday 17th March, sending a donation of drinks, chocolate and sweets to replace the stolen goods.

Lincolnshire Co-op Community Engagement Manager Sam Turner said: “The news about the burglary was first brought to our attention by one of our Community Liaison Representatives, who work within our food stores.

“We’re very lucky to have colleagues across all of our businesses who are brilliant at engaging with the local community.

“The International Bomber Command Centre is important to many people across the county and beyond, and we wish the site and its staff all the best as they recover from this incident.

“Our Community Champions scheme allows us to help many local causes and communities across our trading area, all year round.”

International Bomber Command Centre Director Nicky Barr said: “The IBCC team have been completely bowled over by the incredible response from the local community following the break-in last weekend.

“It has, apart from restoring our faith in human kind, enabled us to go ahead with the planned open day on Sunday 19th March.

“These events are hugely important to the project as they help us to engage with a much wider section of the community, tell the story of both the project and Bomber Command and raise funds.

“To support the event, four veterans had offered to join us to speak with visitors and do signings. Without heating, lighting and food we could not possibly have hosted these gentlemen, whose average age is 94.

“From the enormous number of supportive messages to the donations of generators, flasks, homemade scones and the fantastic contribution of the Lincolnshire Co-op in providing replacement stocks of food and drink, the work of the thieves has now been nullified.

“We will be ready to open the doors at 10.30 on Sunday. We look forward to welcoming the community to the site.”

Anyone with any information or who believes they may be able to help Lincolnshire Police in its investigation is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 82 of 13th March.