BOLTON certainly has a gem in its 27 year-old American midfielder Stuart Holden.
He’s been out from football for 15 months with an injury but decided to use his sporting influence to help local people by running his own Holden’s Gifts of Hope with the help of his family and friends and Bolton Wanderers Community Trust.
This involves collections of food and clothing to help local people in crisis this Christmas. Shoppers in particularly were being urged to buy and donate basic food items like pasta, tinned vegs and tea bags at Asda and Tesco at Middlebrook last weekend.
As I went into Asda, a young woman asked very politely if I felt I could help by buying an item or two from a list of foods to help three local charities: Urban Outreach, Farnworth & Kearsley Foodbank and Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme.
I added some items to my trolley as I went round doing my own shopping and it was neither any trouble nor particularly expensive. I was glad to be able to help others in such a practical way. In fact, I was quite choked when I handed them over to the same young woman.
This was a very sensible way to get us all to give just a little to help those with not much at all currently. People of all ages were responding. I followed a lovely family whose young children gave in their donated items. I’m sure we all felt better making our small gift, and that they will be received with real gratitude.
Thanks, Stuart, for making this happen. Ask again, anytime.