Bringing love (and chocs) to needy kids,
SUPERMARKETS ARE HELPING CHARITY TO DISTRIBUTE LOVE IN WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR
A BURTON charity that helps to bring a bit of normality into the lives of needy children says this year has been its busiest yet.
Sheila Meacham, treasurer of The Young Ones, said so far this year it had helped to bring smiles into 125 children’s lives by providing emergency boxes of clothes, toiletries and toys, birthday gift bags and newborn baby boxes.
Next month, The Young Ones will be gifting 400 Christmas boxes of toys for 0-17-year-olds, and yesterday volunteers were busy working on completing the boxes at its base in the Octagon shopping centre in Burton town centre.
Sheila said: “We support families in need and crisis within a 15-mile radius of Burton via referrals from South Derbyshire District Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council, Safe Guarding Family Support Teams, Citizens Advice, Harvey Girls Burton and women’s refuges.
“Some gifts are donated by group supporters, local Women’s Institutes and supermarket ‘charity champions’, but the group usually holds fund-raising events from March to September to purchase the bulk of toys, etc.
“Like many other charities we have been unable to hold any events this year and individual and group donations have been greatly reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“However, we would like to say a big thank-you to everyone for their wonderful donations this year. The Co-op at Stretton, Morrisons at Swadlincote and Tesco at Burton have all been a tremendous help by gifting Christmas Chocolate and toys for which we are very grateful.”
If you would like to know more about the work of The Young Ones for needy children, or would like to make a donation, please visit its website at www.theyoungonesburton.co.uk and its group Facebook page.