Harrogate shoppers are being urged to donate chocolate in the next fortnight to brighten up Christmas for people struggling to make ends meet.
Commercial Street Retailers Group is working with Harrogate District Foodbank on the initiative.
Sue Kramer, of Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street and head of the retailers group, said:
“The foodbank told us that they are absolutely overwhelmed with families needing help at the moment. They also said that the one thing they are short of is chocolate: boxes of chocolate biscuits, selection boxes etc, which are classed as more “luxury” items. It’s incredibly sad to think of families not having chocolate, which many people would not regard as luxury, at Christmas.
“We have decided to become the ‘sweetest street’ in Harrogate and from December 1 to 15 we will have festive drop-off points on the street so that people can drop off anything chocolatey.”
People can donate chocolate at four shops on Commercial Street: Foxy Antiques and Interiors, the Harrogate Town shop, Lilly’s Bistro and Cafe and White Rose Sewing.
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The retailers group has come up with various initiatives recently to promote Commercial Street’s array of independent shops and to support the community.
It worked with the charity Disability Action Yorkshire to make it more accessible to people with disabilities and held a dog friendly day.
Ms Kramer said:
“We are always trying to do new and innovative things on Commercial Street. We are also getting bespoke Christmassy bunting made by a local company, Flying Colours in Knaresborough.
“Our street is going to look fantastic and will have a real Christmas community spirit — after all it is the season of goodwill unto others.”
