Trowbridge shoppers' festive gifts (From This Is Wiltshire)

Trowbridge shoppers' festive gifts

11:00am Thursday 24th December 2009

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Christmas gifts generously donated by Asda shoppers for single parent families have been handed over to domestic violence charity Splitz.

A charity appeal organised by the supermarket and radio station Heart FM saw shoppers buy an extra gift during their weekly shop and drop it off in a trolley by the checkout.

Nicky Phillips, of Asda in The Shires shopping centre, Trowbridge, handed over the gifts to Fran Lewis, director of Splitz on Friday.

The 30 or so gifts will be distributed by Splitz to some of the families it is in contact with who are most in need this Christmas.

Mrs Lewis, director of Splitz, sad: “I am particularly grateful on behalf of our service users for the generosity of people who have donated these gifts.

“To think that at such a busy time of year and during a recession that people have had the generosity of heart to think of other people less well off.”

She said that Christmas could often be a very difficult time of year for many families, but particularly single parent families who might be finding it hard to pay for gifts without the extra income from their partner.

She added that referrals to Splitz, which is in contact with 400 families in Wiltshire, ‘go through the roof’ in January – a nasty financial hangover from the festive season.

Mrs Lewis advised families not to spend too much on their credit cards, be careful of their alcohol consumption and to get out of the house and do something other than watch television together at least once a day over the festive period.

Splitz can be contacted on 01225 777724 from 9am to 5pm weekdays. In a domestic violence emergency call 999.

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