A temporary pop-up shop in Stoke-on-Trent aims to bring the community together by finding homes for unwanted Christmas gifts and helping those feeling the pinch.
The Unwanted Gift Shop at Longton Exchange Shopping Centre will offer donated gifts free of charge, although there will be an option of making a voluntary £1 contribution to Stoke Air Ambulance, the shopping centre’s designated charity of the year.
People can donate their unwanted gifts now until the store opens its doors for swapping on Monday 12 February. It will be open all of half term week, until Friday 16 February.
It will be based in the former Shoe Zone store within Longton town centre shopping centre.
Centre Manager Chris Ward said: “As many members of the Longton community may be struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, we would like to support them with our Unwanted Gift Shop.
“The idea is simple. We will ask our community to donate any unwanted gifts they received during the festive season to donate them to someone else.”
Unwanted gifts can be donated at the centre’s management office.
The shopping centre has held a number of similar community initiatives, including Keep Longton Warm, which offered free clothing to those in need and a school uniform swap.
Last week, the centre held National Lobby Week celebrations, handing out free portions of the North Staffordshire dish to shoppers, giving them advice on how to make the meal at home. Read more here.
