Creating 100 festive hampers for local families that need them the most this Christmas
2020 has been a year of difficulty and hardship for many. Coronavirus and the resulting restrictions on day-to-day life have placed immense pressure on families around the UK. And with Christmas just around the corner, vulnerable families need even greater support
In Devon, Action for Children volunteers in Torbay have been organising and packing festive hampers for local families for the past six Christmases. But in 2020, they wanted to make an even bigger impact. Ensuring that they could reach more families.
The volunteers have been doing this for the last six years. But this year, the need is greater than ever.
Denise, Children's Centres Lead
Normally, they’d be fundraising in Torbay town centre. But, like a lot of things this year, their fundraising went online in 2020. Volunteers raised £1,500 through a GoFundMe page and with an additional £1,000 donation from the Wellswood Womans Institute, they created 100 hampers – the highest number they’ve ever produced.
As well as food and Christmas goodies like crackers gathered by volunteers, the local community were keen to get involved and donated additional items. This included BookTrust book packs gifted by Torbay Libraries.
A local lady who had been isolated during lockdown contacted us to ask if she could gift baby blankets that she’d made herself. They’re absolutely beautiful and so well made.
Denise, Children's Centres Lead
This is just one of many examples of how Action for Children volunteers go above and beyond to bring excitement to the lives of vulnerable children. These acts of kindness also show how important a close-knit community is during times of uncertainty. Social distancing has led to a huge and sudden increase in social isolation and loneliness. So, the delivery of these hampers, during what is seen as the loneliest time of the year, is crucial.
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