For 25 years the ‘Father Christmas’ of Essex & Suffolk Water has been collecting presents for underprivileged children.

What started out as a small gesture of festive kindness by Dave Lockwood, a customer team manager, has transformed into a quarter of a century commitment to making Christmas better for kids.

Each year, Dave inspires colleagues to fill shoeboxes with toys, toiletries, stationery, and sweets for children in need using donations from businesses and colleagues in Trinity House, Essex & Suffolk Water’s Lowestoft headquarters.

This year has seen a staggering 256 shoeboxes collected, with colleagues gifting their lunch hours and spare time to fill and wrap the shoeboxes ready to send.

But that is a small part of a bigger story that has seen more than 2,000 shoeboxes donated.

As Dave explains: “It’s about more than gifts - it’s about showing people they’re cared for. Every shoebox is a message of hope.

“In 2000, my oldest was in primary school and they did a shoebox appeal and I thought I wonder if we could do this at work. It went from there!

“It started off quite small as there were few of us who got involved and made about 30 boxes, and its gradually ramped up every year. I’ve extended it beyond work, to friends and family and neighbours.

“We all get so much at Christmas but putting a shoebox together with a skipping rope, a bag of sweets and some toothpaste, it just makes you feel a little bit better.”

Now Dave’s campaign is supported every year by Essex & Suffolk Water’s corporate volunteering programme called Just an Hour. As Trinity House is home to the company’s call centre, packing shoeboxes is an easier way for staff to step away from the day job for half an hour and pack a few shoeboxes for Just an Hour.

Dave buys the shoeboxes from a company that then coordinates the delivery of the gifts, so all Dave has to worry about is making sure the shoeboxes are full.

Dave said: “Every year you learn a little bit more; this year it was to buy toothpaste early! But we’re at the stage now where it ticks over all year, with bake sales and fundraisers to raise money to buy items for the shoeboxes. Then when it gets to the end of the summer, I know I need to get into gear.

“This year by mid-November we’d packaged up 256 boxes, which get delivered to Norwich and then eventually will end up in Eastern Europe. It’s busy and it can be draining but the thought of the kids not having a Christmas present, is what keeps me motivated, as cheesy as that sounds!”

Dave plans to keep doing the appeal every year. He has added a Go Fund Me to raise money for the items in the shoeboxes, and an Amazon wishlist. If you would like to support Dave’s efforts and donate in preparation for 2026, please visit the links below:

• Amazon Wish List: Purchase items directly from the Amazon.co.uk for delivery to Essex & Suffolk Water, FAO David Lockwood, Trinity House, Lowestoft NR33 0SW
• GoFundMe: Monetary donations can be made via the GoFundMe page - Fundraiser by Dave Lockwood : 2026 Christmas Shoebox Appeal