NWN launches 118th Over 80s Christmas Parcel Appeal

There to wish it every success was the Mayor of Newbury Jo Day, the mayor’s attendant Ian Campbell, Newbury civic manager Joyce Lewis, Newbury News Limited chairman Jeremy Willis, managing director James Gurney, Newbury Weekly News appeal co-ordinator Joanne Fulker, and Carol Irwin and Dene Burton, of Sainsbury’s Newbury branch, all of whom are supporting the appeal’s aim to bring Christmas cheer into the lives of elderly people living in West Berkshire.
The appeal originated as ‘The Two Ts Fund’ when it was started by Frank Stillman, one of the Newbury Weekly News’ first editors, the idea being to give a Christmas gift of tobacco and tea to the men and women of the day living in the town’s workhouse.
Thankfully, times have changed over the following 117 years, and so have the contents of the present-day Christmas gifts donated by the appeal. The need for it, however, very much reamains. There are still many elderly people who are unable to afford a few Christmas treats that many of us take for granted.
Some have families living far away and find themselves alone at Christmastime. For them, the knock on the door and the company of the volunteer visitor delivering the parcel personally is greatly looked forward to each year.
Last Christmas 2,225 parcels were delivered to people aged 80 and over living in and around Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford. As well as the items of food, each parcel contains a message to the receiver emphasising that they are not forgotten by the people of West Berkshire, and that the parcel is a seasonal ‘thank you’ from the whole of the community. There is no means test of any kind to be a recipient – for money is no bar to loneliness.
The Newbury Weekly News is once again calling on all West Berkshire’s generous individuals, schools, businesses and community groups to support its fundraising events this year.
If you would like to make a donation to the fund, however large or small, the NWN would be delighted to hear from you, as every penny counts towards the £20,000 needed to pay the food bill at the beginning of December.
All cheques should be made payable to the NWN Over 80s Parcel Fund and
posted to Joanne Fulker at Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berks RG14 2DW.
Alternatively, if you would like to make a cash donation, there is a collection tin at Sainsbury’s so you can pop the money in the collection box while you are doing your shopping.
This week the NWN would like to give special thanks to Rivar Ltd, Highcross, Thatcham Town Council, Sainsbury’s Local Hero’s Fund, Quantel, and Kintbury Parish Council for being the first to donate to the 2014 Parcel Fund.