Harwich Haven Authority spreads a little Christmas cheer to local families
20 December 2016
The Harwich Haven Authority will be providing Christmas hampers – to the value of £1,000 –to ensure approx. 20 of the community’s most disadvantaged families can sit down to a special meal on Christmas day.
The hampers will contain everything required for a slap-up Christmas meal, including vegetables, turkey, stuffing, chocolates, sweets and a Christmas dessert. The Authority will also be providing essentials such as nappies, toothpaste and fuel cards.
The initiative is a collaboration between Harwich Haven Authority and Harwich FoodBank, who work tirelessly to support local families in the Harwich and Dovercourt area. They are based next to Morrisons on the Iconfield Park, Garland Rd, Harwich.
“As a Trust Port it’s important for us to invest in our local community,” says Neil Glendinning, chief executive, Harwich Haven Authority.
“We’re also one of the largest employers in Harwich so we were very keen to get involved with the Christmas hamper initiative.
“It’s a special time of year and my staff were eager to lend support. We’re also collecting unwanted, good quality winter clothes, bedding and footwear that we’ll distribute to the community in the New Year via the local Fire and Rescue Service station in Dovercourt.”
Councillor Ivan Henderson commented: “This remarkable act of generosity will make a genuine difference to many local families who would otherwise not have had a special meal on Christmas Day. Thanks to Harwich Haven Authority’s kindness those in this dreadful situation will enjoy what those of us who are more fortunate take for granted.”
Les Nicoll, chairman, Harwich FoodBank added: “I am extremely pleased and excited about this generous offer from Harwich Haven Authority. Their kind donation to Harwich and the wider community will definitely make a huge difference.
“As I sit down with my family for Christmas dinner it will be fantastic to know that because of this generous and unselfish offer other families in our town will be able to enjoy the celebrations without worrying.
“The Harwich FoodBank will also match the fuel card offer to ensure families remain warm throughout the entire holiday period.”
About Harwich FoodBank: We are a voluntary organisation originally set up by Harwich Churches Together to address some of the problems stemming from the growing level of poverty within our district. Although it is essentially a Christian Organisation, the FoodBank is not tied to any particular church or ministry. It draws its team members from, and serves, the whole wider community.
Our primary mission is to give Emergency Food Aid to those in financial distress. But even for those who are not in need of one of our food parcels, we can still provide a friendly supportive place just to drop in for a cup of tea and a chat.
The FoodBank serves the same area as Harwich & District Town Council, including Ramsey and the outlying villages.
We aim to help anyone, irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, ability, religion or political views, who is in genuine crisis and in need of Emergency Food Aid. However, the FoodBank is not a free-for-all; clients need to be referred to us by one of our partner organisations before they can claim a Food Parcel.
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