Kindness triumphs after children’s hospice hamper is stolen

Last week a thief took a raffle prize, which contained £40 of alcohol, from the Forget-Me-Not Children’s Hospice shop in Northgate, Heckmondwike.

Manager Pam Smith said: “We were absolutely gutted when we found it had gone. The lady who made it had collected for it throughout the year.

“I just couldn’t believe it – if they said they needed a drink I would have taken them two doors down and bought them a bottle.

“Stealing is bad enough but stealing from a children’s hospice is just the lowest of the low.”

But after customers heard about the theft the town’s Christmas spirit prevailed and donations of cash and drinks have more than replaced the value of the stolen hamper.

Pam said: “The twist is that customers have come in and given so generously. The new prize is actually bigger – the kindness has been unbelievable.”

The missing hamper was last seen at 1.50pm on Tuesday December 9.

Pam said it was likely taken when staff were distracted.

She said a customer saw someone walking through town carrying a hamper shortly after it was noticed missing.

It was around 8in deep, 12in wide and 30in long, with cellophane across the top.

Anyone who might have information or saw someone walking through Heckmondwike town centre on the day carrying a hamper should contact the police on 101.

Any donations can be handed in to the shop in Northgate.