Food boxes and Christmas dinners to be handed out to homeless and vulnerable

Gift boxes are to be handed out to the homeless this Christmas thanks to the generosity of members of the Coverdale WI.

Packed with hand crafted items and home-made food, the boxes have been donated to Richmondshire District Council to hand out to families and individuals who have found themselves homeless.

Lea Taylor, one of the group’s 22 members said: “After such a turbulent year for all of us we wanted to ensure we were supporting other people in their challenges.

“We want to give them something that hopefully will bring them some festive cheer.”

And the boxes are not the only generous offers coming from the Richmondshire community.

Christmas Day dinners are being provided by the Colburn Hub and Community Café, supported by Broadacres, but due to Covid-19 a free delivery and takeaway service is being offered rather than the usual sit down dinner in the village hall.

Food has been donated by local people and shops including 100 hampers from Signal Communications, based on Colburn Business Park, and a massive collection of toys by Colburn resident Pete Bolton.

He put out a Facebook appeal and thousands of items were donated.

Children from Risedale School at Hipswell also collected goodies and have made hampers.

The food hampers are being provided to families and individuals that need a helping hand this Christmas.

Hub Member, Wendy Bainbridge, said: “The response from local people and businesses has been phenomenal – they have been so generous in their donations to help people in our communities.

“We want to say a massive thankyou to them all, they are helping to make Christmas special for lots of people this year.

“And we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.”

For details on how to access this service check out the Colburn Hub and Café facebook account and anyone needing help over Christmas contact Angie Dale on 07833 490502.

“All these donations and kind offers of help will make Christmas a little more bearable for those that find themselves homeless at this time,” added Corporate Director, Callum McKeon.

“We also want to thank the Jonas Centre at Redmire which has been working with e council’s housing options team to provide accommodation for those at risk of being homeless during the pandemic.”