A Blackburn charity is spreading joy to sick, disadvantaged and disabled children this Easter after donating hundreds of Easter eggs to various organisations in the borough.
Secret Santa CIC, formed in 2017 by Phil and Karen Boulding, has donated 1,000 Easter eggs to a police station, community centre and more, for onwards distribution across Blackburn with Darwen.
They even visited Darwen police station and gave them 50 Easter eggs to distribute to children.
The King William Street charity run this appeal each year in the run up to Easter, asking for local businesses to donate money and chocolate eggs for less fortunate children.
The charity’s managing director Phil Boulding said this year’s collection has been a success.
He said: “Easter 2023 was a total success for us, we were so pleased to have hit our target for the third year running.
“When we started this year’s appeal we had no eggs, and everyone and everything was very quiet.
“But as seems to be the way these days, we had nothing, nothing, then the landslide started.
“Before we knew it we had been donated money and had eggs dropped off and we hit our goal.”
Elektec Ltd in Darwen, Nybble IT in Blackburn and CoverMyBubble in Oswaldtwistle along with long time supporter Pops Ali were some of the companies that were generous with donations.
Secret Santa work around the year to support communities providing sacks of gifts at Christmas, arranging parties for the elderly and lonely in the winter, giving away Eid gifts for disadvantaged Muslim children, providing outside games and sporting items across the school summer holidays, and beyond.
Phil said: “We are so very proud of how the people of Blackburn with Darwen have taken us to their hearts.
“They trust that we do what we say and we always deliver on our promises.
“Right now we are working on our favourite community cohesion project and our goal is to give as many Eid gift bags to our most disadvantaged children that we can.
“If you’re reading this as a business owner or a person that is financially comfortable and believe you could help us a little?
"Please call into our shop anytime or call me on 07866 566166 at any time.”
This year the eggs were distributed to:
- 400 to Blackburn with Darwen children’s services
- 100 to Blackburn’s Apple Trees. Apple Trees, a respite centre for disabled children
- 100 to Ivy St Community Centre
- 100 to Blackburn Hospital
- 100 to Shaun Haggart Foundation
- 50 to the Roe Lee Park annual family Easter egg hunt
- 50 to Darwen police station
- 50 to The Asylum Seekers and Refugee Community Blackburn (ARC)
- 50 to Darwen Asylum and Refugee Enterprise (DARE)
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