Postbox toppers found in bin on Boxing Day, fundraising now over £21k, attracting visitors from far and wide

There's no rest for the St Albans Postboxes team, with reports of missing toppers on Christmas Day - and then two toppers found in bins on Boxing Day (two photos - snow globe and penguins)

Barbara Mortimer, who found the penguin topper said "There was a bit of dirt and damage but it's mostly OK - I don't want to talk about what I had to dig through in the bin!" Barbara performed some emergency mending and put the topper back up.

Stephen Jenkins also reported in: "Sorry to say that we have found one of your post box toppers stuffed in a litter bin." and returned the snow globe topper to St Albans Postboxes HQ for some attention.

Meanwhile the toppers have attracted visitors from far and wide, including the Burbidge family (photo, two boys, shared with permission); dad Mark told us "My children and I have enjoyed doing your postbox trail. We drove from Dorset and visited all 60 postboxes -Zac, Dexter and I were really impressed with all the hard work - thank you."

Closer to home, local postman Michael Walsh has continued his tradition of visiting the postboxes to show his appreciation (photos available of Michael in various costumes at postboxes). "All the posties love working in December in St Albans, who can't smile when they see a woolly hatted postbox!"

Local running groups such as Athena Ladies' Running Club and St Albans Striders have supported the toppers since they started in December 2018, plotting and sharing routes and photos. Runner Kate Tettmar told us: "A sunny Boxing Day saw my longest St Albans Postboxes postbox topper run yet in the 5 years they've been going - 45 toppers in 19 miles! Along with the 4 I "collected" on Christmas Eve, I've visited & photographed all of the toppers in St Albans." (photo collages available, attached one).

One of the charities the group are fundraising for is St Albans Community Pantry. Co-Chair Raihaanah Ahmed commented: "We're a team of almost 50 people, every single one unpaid. We use every penny towards food, fitness sessions and fuel help.We purchase fresh fruit and vegetables every week from a local supplier (at cost price) to ensure each box contains fresh food items.
In 2020 our weekly spend was £65 in 2022 it is now £200 to support 600 people. We have a rising cost of food plus an increase in demand for our service. We couldn't do this if it wasn't for the generosity of folk in St Albans, and St Albans Postboxes' donations are crucial for our work in 2023."

Donation link: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/st-albans-postboxes-christmas-2022

Website: https://stalbanspostboxes.org.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stalbanspostboxes

Instagram: StAlbansPostboxes



Contact: Clare Suttie, 07940 358 688 clare@atlas-translations.co.uk

6 St Peter's St, St Albans AL1 3LF

All the #stalbanspostboxes toppers are made with love, imagination and possibly some swearing, and at no cost, by volunteers.

Business sponsors generously gave their money.

Admin, emails, phone calls, helpers, web designers and hosters, map artists, app designers, photographers, Facebookers, bloggers, Instagrammers, all donating time and expertise behind the scenes.

In 2022, we are delighted to be raising much-needed funds for St Albans Action For Homeless (SAAH) and Sopwell Community Trust - for St Albans Community Food Pantry.

We choose charities for the work that they do locally and for the wide range of people they support in and around St Albans.

ALL money received for the topper sponsorship is paid direct to the charities. Admin and support is provided by Clare and team at Atlas Translations; and Candy Stuart and Lucy Dronfield co-ordinate the fabulous volunteers on the yarnbombing team - who work practically all year!

This release was published on openPR.