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Leslie Nicoll raised £4,867 from 128 supporters
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Closed 14/03/2022
Iʼve raised £4,867 to To create One day free of poverty within the very poorest in our community. This Christmas day
- Funded on Monday, 14th March 2022
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Story
ONE BEAUTIFUL DAY FREEOF POVERTY
I have been contacted again by even more school welfare teams across Tendring and Colchester. By social services, by Police officers, charities
Asking for us to help they each have families (not the odd one) but hundreds of families who are so poor that Santa will Not land on their roof, nor climb down their chimney there will be no presents under the tree.
Why? because there is so much poverty within the family.
The problem though is a hundred times worse there will be no food on the table.
These families rely on foodbanks just to get by.
That’s Right in 2020 in the fifth richest country in the world, in our community of North Essex children will not be able to celebrate Christmas.
This is wrong, worse than wrong. This absolutely breaks my heart and reduces this big ugly old man to tears. How can I sit in a house of plenty with so much poverty within my community?
How can I throw away more Christmas treats than 200 or more families will see?
You were on Christmas eve 2020 after a terrible year of pain, isolation and virus, able to donate Hampers and presents to 167 families, you created tears, Laughter and joy where there was misery and despair.
I visited a home last Christmas with a hamper, a young father answered the door inviting me into a sparsely furnished living room, a tiny Christmas tree with a few bangles and no lights standing on the floor in the corner. A small child seeing this big ugly Firefighter enter her home ran and hid behind the sofa. I told the man that I had some things for them and asked for his help to carry them in. He was stunned to see the bags of food and presents in my car. WE took in the first few items. Returning to my car, I noticed that the man had not followed quietly muttering about being too lazy to help himself. When I returned, I saw this young Dad with tears streaming down his face hugging and consoling his crying wife. A big-eyed child crying because her parents were. A family totally overwhelmed by the generosity of their community. I quickly left the house and the family to their tearful Joy. With huge tears streaming my face never to forget that day.
Children’s eyes lighting up on Christmas morning, families bound together by joy
I am going to shamelessly ask you to donate funds to making this happen
Also, or alternatively new toys
Quote; BW Walton, Thank you and your volunteers so much. Fleeing a violent partner My Kids and I had accepted that there would be no Christmas this year. Things were beyond tight. We were pleased when our support worker told us there was a chance that we could receive a hamper. But we never for a second imagined it would be so good, plus money for electric even some money for my phone to catch up with my Sister, nice presents for the family. Christmas was lovely for us Thank you so much xx
Truths; I ask you please not to judge, but to accept that these are innocent Children going without.
• We are all volunteers I absolutely promise Every single penny donated will be spent on struggling families. NO Admin costs, no expenses
• We will provide as we did last year a full Christmas day hamper with Breakfast, Dinner, tea, cakes fruit and fancies. Sweets, mince pies for Santa carrots for reindeers (Average £75)
• We will give each family £40 for Electric or gas so they can be warm and cook their dinner plus £5 for their phone so they can talk to family and friends
• We will give all families wrapped presents for the children also adults.
Last year even though we raised over £16,000 and with donations of food helped 167 families enjoy a normal Christmas day.
Plus, a further 90 families received a small hamper of Christmas treats through the Active Essex Holiday hunger scheme
I though was so very aware and ashamed of so many we missed.
I appreciate organisations have not been able to raise funds this year and that this is a difficult ask.
Finally
Children are resilient, Children from poor families Know that Mum and Dad absolutely cannot afford Christmas food and presents for them.
They do not join in the excited Playground chatter, (ask yourself when you have ever heard a friend say “We will not be having any presents this year as Mummy and Daddy are poor”) often they would make up stories to be like their friends.
Yet they always accept that there will be nothing at the end of the bed.
Just think last year nearly 400 children woke up on Christmas morning expecting it to be no different from any other day.
But:
The house was warm, Mum and dad were happy, there was sound of breakfast coming from the kitchen, then there was a pile of presents at the end of their bed.
They knew That they were poor, they Knew Mum and dad could not provide them there could only be one solution.
SANTA WAS REAL
Thank you so much Les Nicoll
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Supporters
128
Marty Beecham
Feb 19, 2022
Sorry its a bit late but well done Geoff and all the others that took part in the charity swim
£10.00
Jackie Feander
Jan 3, 2022
Well done everyone!
£10.00
Chris Strachan
Jan 2, 2022
Anonymous
Jan 1, 2022
£10.00
Jo Hanton, Vicki Gosbell, Marjorie Box, Tony Johnson, Glynis Zimmermann, Jenny Tricker&Toni Smith
Jan 1, 2022
Thank you to all the people named for donating cash to me this morning. Cheers Geoff.
£50.00
Michelle Daly
Jan 1, 2022
Good luck Geoff and the Dolphins 👍🏻
£20.00
Trevor Rowe
Dec 31, 2021
Well done Geoff 👏
£5.00
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