Devon & Cornwall Police pack some festive cheer for those in need

Devon & Cornwall Police has joined forces with staff at Devon Highways to put their best foot forward and send festive shoeboxes full of useful items to places where they will make a real difference.

Link to Hope is a registered charity, who have been sending shoeboxes at Christmas time since 1992. Boxes filled with goodies and donated to the appeal will go to the poorest people in Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania.

Items collected include toiletries, gloves, scarves, hats, travel size games (for example playing cards), colouring pens and writing pads, hairbrushes, hot water bottles, sewing kits, small toys and sweets. All donations come from the person’s own generosity and there is no cost to the public (taxpayers) or the Force.          

Chief Inspector Dean Drury, who supports the campaign, explained: “Last year Devon & Cornwall Police colleagues donated around 100 filled shoe boxes for the Samaritans Operation Christmas Child charity campaign and we have collected the same amount this year.

“We are always impressed and delighted by the generosity of our workforce at Devon & Cornwall Police and this is a way of spreading festive cheer to those less fortunate than ourselves”

“We decided to team up with our colleagues at Devon Highways this year as they also wanted to do their bit for a good cause.”       

The involvement in the charity collection was started by the Force Roads Policing Unit and this year’s drive to collect for those in need ran in October and November.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “It's great that our teams have been involved in this heart-warming project with Devon & Cornwall Police and the Link to Hope charity. People have given very generously so I'm pleased to see so many shoeboxes have been filled.  Some of the items may be small but they will make a huge difference to the lives of those who will receive them.”

The drop off points for boxes were Exeter Police Station and various Highways depots across Devon.

Simon Kane, from Devon Highways, commented: “This is kindness from individuals who work to maintain the roads across Devon and comes out of their own pockets. It has been made possible due to the collaborative working relationships Devon & Cornwall Police and Devon Highways have built through their activities to reduce roadworker abuse, and we are delighted to support disadvantaged communities at this time of year.”

Lisa Hector, General Manager of Link to Hope, added: “We are delighted that colleagues from Devon & Cornwall Police and Devon Highways have banded together to fill so many shoeboxes for Link to Hope.

“We are going out soon to deliver them to Romania in an area which has been hit by huge floods - thousands of people have been displaced and lost everything. We will be going with your gifts to bring some joy and hope to those people and share these wonderful shoeboxes with families and elderly people.”

For more information about the Link to Hope charity please visit Home - Link To Hope