NWN Over 80's Parcel Fund ramps up the fundraising as distribution centres are confirmed for this year's appeal

Every year the Newbury Weekly News spreads a little Christmas cheer to nearly 2,000 elderly residents in West Berkshire.

Anyone over the age of 80, whose name we have been given, receives a Christmas food parcel in December.

The parcel is purely to send a message to its elderly recipient saying how the people of West Berkshire recognise and are grateful for their life-long work and it is a seasonal ‘thank you’ from the whole of the community.

Our three distribution centres are now organised, transport has been confirmed and we are in the process of liaising with the local schools and all the very kind volunteers who help make this happen each year.

The next fundraising event is a coffee morning in Newbury Town Hall with the mayor, Gary Norman, who would very much like you to join him and other councillors for a tea or coffee and a piece of cake on the morning of Saturday, November 5.

So please put the date in your diary and come along.

Following that, on Thursday, November 17, it is the much loved Sports Quiz night again.

The event is being held at the Bowlers Arms, as it has been now for over 20 years!

Teams come from all over West Berkshire to battle it out to be the quiz champions and also of course to have a fun evening at the same time as raising even more vital money for the Parcel Fund.

There are raffle prizes to be won thanks to some very generous companies in Newbury and the winning team wins alcohol to soothe those tired brains.

Many of us are so busy rushing round that we don’t realise that there are many elderly people without families around them, who spend most of the Christmas break alone.

The parcels are not means tested and for so many it is the knock on the door and the feeling they are still remembered, no matter how old they now are, that really makes a difference.

If you would like to add the name of someone you know, over the age of 80, who lives in Newbury, Hungerford or Thatcham to our list, or to remove a name of someone who no longer requires a parcel, please email jo.fulker@newburynews.co.uk with the name, address and date of birth. You can also email the coordinator, Jo Fulker, for anything else relating to the parcel fund.

If you would like to make a donation and are able to donate through The Good Exchange, Greenham Trust will match the amount you donate, so in fact double the money raised.

To do this please visit https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/19727/newbury-weekly-news/newbury-weekly-news-over-80s-parcel-fund-2022 or scan the QR code above.

Alternatively, please send a cheque made payable to ‘Greenham Trust Ltd’ for the attention of Jo Fulker, Newbury News, Faraday Road, Newbury.

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, see the Newbury Weekly News each week until Christmas.