The Foodbank team at St Clare’s have received wonderful donations from local businesses, groups and individuals. These will help make Christmas food special for local people struggling to feed themselves and their families as many of the gifts will go into Christmas hampers.
The Tesco 3 day collection and donations made direct to the County Foodstore at Chester le Street, also add to the gift people will receive this week. During the three days in Tesco, local shoppers gave £890 which was spent on food and, combined with their food donations, a massive 2,488 kg, nearly 2.5 tons, was collected.
The Foodbank wishes to say a sincere thank you to Tesco staff in Newton Aycliffe, all volunteers who helped in store and especially the general public, for their amazing generosity. The food will be stored, then distributed here well into next year.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and the Crossfit All Out Gym members have donated selection boxes and other chocolates. Simply Thank You, Baltic Recruitment, Driver Hire, Palram and Siesta Coffee, all local companies, have contacted us to make donations.
One group of workers have given up their Secret Santa gift money to provide Christmas cakes. The Youth Council members, working with Steve Cooper, are also working to make a difference for those people in need locally. The Royal Telegraph pub in Aycliffe Village held a raffle and the £320 raised has been spent on food for Foodbank.
Kath, Alison and the other volunteers are touched by many other individuals who bring in or leave donations at the churches. They do not wish to be named and many will not give their names.
“Some are people who have received help from Foodbanks when going through financial difficulties themselves. For others, they are repaying the generosity shown to family members.” said Alison.
“We hear so often from older people, that they have experienced hard times and have been thankful for help from the community. They are great supporters and we are very grateful for all help given”
Four Volunteers from 3M visited Foodbank last Wednesday to help sort the Christmas Hampers, as part of their Community Engagement Programme. Over forty households will receive a hamper, so thank you, 3M volunteers. Greenfield School delivered a big donation. It is always heart-warming to know that young people are also concerned for the welfare of others in the community. Many of the schools in Aycliffe are regular donors.
Christmas is just days away nd for most of us food shopping is high on our agenda. It is wonderful to know that thousands of people, living and working in and around Newton Aycliffe, have been generous towards those struggling to buy basic necessities and have given cash and food to make their Christmas less bleak.
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