XMAS SACKS - THE INSIDE STORY

Each year the demand for our Xmas Sacks increases. Over the last couple of years we have prepared and delivered presents for around 500+ children, and this year the number exceeded 800! A massive increase, the need has mushroomed because of Covid and the ecomonic impact it is having on our community.  Our 

Community Team, headed by Therese Brook, have over the years developed a very close relationship with a number of Social Service professionals. This  enables us to pinpoint those most in need and gives us a handle on how many people require our help.  

Then the challenge really starts ....  

So to start with, we need to raise sufficient funds by organising fundraising events to finance the filling of the sacks. Well, as we all know, this has simply not been possible this year. 

So this year the filling of the sacks depended on the support of local businesses and members of the public making donations and what a response we received. Love it or hate it, Facebook can be a wonderful communication platform.

Numerous businesses supported us by giving us toys, while others gave cash to purchase gifts. Individuals contacted us to make donations. Grants were received from various local organisations and other local Rotary Clubs stepped up to help us out. 

With this magnificent support we were able to accumulate sufficient presents. 

Thank you everyone for your help.  Step 1 completed!  

The gifts then have to be sorted in gender/age-specific 'piles' and then matched to the details provided by the local Social Service professionals - no mean feat! Just ask Therese's husband as he sits in his lounge surrounded by heaps of presents! 

The numerous toys are then placed in family sacks. The parents' presents are wrapped and a supply of wrapping paper, tags and sellotape is included in each sack so that the 'Mums and Dads' can personally have the pleasure of wrapping their children's gifts. 

All that remains is for the club to call upon the services of Santa and his delivery team.

Happy Xmas and then the planning starts for next year....