Independent retailers becoming Harrogate's 'Sweetest Street' to help the food bank
They're collecting Christmas chocolates for users of Harrogate Food Bank
Last updated 1st Dec 2021
A group of independent Harrogate retailers are hoping to become the town's 'Sweetest Street' to help struggling families.
Shops on Commercial Street have set up donation points for people to hand in festive chocolates and biscuits to go to families who use Harrogate Food Bank.
It's as many families will choose to go without little treats at this time of year, saving money for household bills like gas and electricity.
Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers and part of Commercial Street Retailer's Group, wanted to make sure no one missed out this year.
She said:
"It's not just about having customers coming to shop local; we wanted to give back to the community. We reached out to Harrogate Food Bank to see what help they needed and they said at Christmas they're always short of chocolate treats like advent calendars, chocolate coins, boxes of chocolate and things like that.
"A lot of people will be in the fortunate situation where they can regard chocolate as every day but for these families it is a luxury that they can't afford so we wanted to make sure all families in Harrogate can have a 'sweet Christmas'.
"It is about community and it's about giving back. This is something we can do as a street collective and something as simple as a bar of chocolate really can make someone's Christmas."
Donation points have been set up at retailers based on Commercial Street with everything collected picked up by the team at Harrogate Food Bank based at Mowbray Community Church on Westmoreland Street.
The retailer's group have purchased £25 worth of chocolate to get the ball rolling but shoppers who would like to donate can do so at White Rose Sewing, Lilly's Cafe, the Harrogate Town Shop and Foxy Antiques and Interiors in the festive baskets on display.
Donations can be made from today (1 December) to Wednesday 15 December.