“This year has shown a real sense of togetherness, and the Council is proud to host regular events which have been proven to have had a positive impact on the wellbeing and happiness of many residents. These include the Haven, the Memory Café and the Welcome Spaces initiatives.”
Haydon Wick Parish Council successfully delivered the traditional Christmas Parcel Scheme again this year, spreading festive cheer and goodwill to those residents in need across the Parish.
Councillors, Staff and Volunteers worked hard to pack and deliver the parcels on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th December 2023. The project successfully delivered 135 parcels to residents who are over 70 and live alone in the parish. The parcel included some festive food, toiletries and a selection of other useful food to be consumed this winter.
The Christmas Parcel project typically begins in September, when the Staff are tasked with contacting local suppliers for sponsorship and donations, administering the parcel applications and collecting all the produce, organising 15 delivery rounds and co ordinating the volunteers.
The Council is very grateful for the generosity of the volunteers and local groups who came together to help and would like to pass thanks on to Morrisons, Aldi, the Redeemed Christian Church of God and N&B Foods for their ongoing support over the past three years and the Swindon Food Collective for their contribution to this wonderful and humbling project.
Chairman of the Council, Councillor Vinay Manro said:
“This year has shown a real sense of togetherness, and the Council is proud to host regular events which have proven to have had a positive impact on the wellbeing and happiness of many residents. These include the Haven, the Memory Café and the Welcome Spaces initiatives.
This annual Christmas Parcel project is more than just delivering a parcel, the residents really look forward to this every year and it’s a good way of checking in on some of our most vulnerable. It gives us the opportunity to have a chat and invite residents along to events that they may not be aware of and reassuring them that the Council is available should they need support. This really is a rewarding project for all that are fortunate to participate and is possibly one of the most important community dates in the Council’s calendar.”.
The Council would also like to congratulate Callie, aged 11, from a local primary school for her creation of a ‘Mary & Joseph’ design Christmas card. The card will be placed inside the parcels this year, from all the children that live or go to school in the parish of Haydon Wick. Callie won a selection of merchandise showcasing her design from her own packs of Christmas cards to give out to her family and friends, a tote bag and a t-shirt.
This project is always a fantastic and rewarding way to end the year. The Parish Council wishes all readers a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
