FAMILY firm Greenhalgh’s is asking its customers to share their Christmas with needy families this year.

The Lostock-based bakery, owned and run by the Smart family, has joined charity Urban Outreach’s Christmas Dinner on Jesus hamper campaign to give hundreds of local families a decent festive meal.

Customers at Greenhalgh’s 16 shops across Bolton are being asked to donate an extra £1 on their purchases towards the hamper appeal.

The idea came from Sarah Goulding, a member of the Smart family who began working full-time for the company just a year ago after a lengthy career in teaching.

Sarah, formerly an assistant headteacher at a local primary school, had seen first-hand hungry children coming to school.

“We regularly provided breakfast for some children,” she said. “At Christmas time, all the staff would buy gifts for children who we knew wouldn’t have any otherwise.”

As a member of the Bolton Action Group of local business people and organisations helping the town after lockdown, she heard about the Bolton Lions’ annual toy appeal.

“But I also realised that many families will struggle to provide a Christmas Day meal for their children,” she added.

“This year has been especially hard for many families and we would like to ease the pressure slightly by gifting them Christmas dinner.”

Greenhalgh’s has teamed up with Urban Outreach, which helps vulnerable people across the borough, to boost its popular hamper appeal.

The charity’s chief executive Dave Bagley said: “We are all so excited about this year’s hamper campaign.

“We have had such amazing support during the pandemic from across our great town. To have yet another of the pillars that make our town the best in the country, Greenhalgh’s, adding their special touch to make Christmas special for thousands of Boltonians this year is wonderful.

“Thank you to them and all their customers. We are Bolton and this is how we do community.”

The hampers will include Greenhalgh’s mince pies, Christmas puddings, assorted gingerbreads and Yule logs.

“We know that Bolton people are particularly caring and will, hopefully, back the appeal,” said Sarah. “We would like to thank everyone who helps in advance. We know that, together, we can make a real difference to so many families this Christmas.”