Help make our Easter egg appeal a record-breaker for thousands of children across Northamptonshire

Each year thousands of children young people in Northamptonshire go without a chocolate egg to open at Easter - but this time around, you can make a difference.

Today, the Chronicle & Echo is launching its third annual Easter Egg Appeal for 2020, where you can help spread a little joy to the thousands of disadvantaged children and families in the county.

The campaign is run by the easter bunny herself Jeanette Walsh - who many readers will remember as the brains behind the incredible success at the county’s annual Christmas Toy Appeal.

At last year’s Easter appeal, Chron readers dropped off more than 500 eggs and helped Jeanette’s team give a chocolate gift to each of Northamptonshire’s 5,000 children in care.

But that was before you, the Chron’s readers, showed just what an impact you can make at the Christmas Toy Appeal 2020.

For our Christmas appeal, generous readers donated a record-breaking 2,000 presents for Jeanette’s cause.

And we know for this year’s Easter appeal, Northampton’s readers has it in them to set another record.

‘The Easter Bunny’ Jeanette Walsh said: “The children we are helping are disadvantaged and otherwise might wake up on Easter morning without an Easter egg to enjoy.

“It might sound like such a small thing but it’s such a simple surprise that means so much to families and children who wouldn’t get to enjoy it otherwise.

“If you’re out buying your easter eggs for your children, please think about putting a few extras into your shopping trolley and help us make surprise some children this Easter.”

All the donated eggs from the appeal will be collected and sent out across Northamptonshire by the county council’s teams of social workers.

How you can help

To give to the Chronicle & Echo’s Easter Egg appeal, you can drop off your chocolate donations at either of Northampton’s Good Loaf Cafes in:

- Overstone Road, NN1 3JL

- The All Saints Church, George Row, NN1 1DF

The Easter Egg Appeal runs from March 4 until March 25, when the eggs will be collected and delivered to the county council.

This year, Jeanette is also asking for readers to consider donating dairy-free eggs and allergen-free eggs - and to keep the county’s teenagers in mind when choosing their donation at the store.