Bid farewell to tree and help charity
It might seem a bit early to start thinking about taking down your Christmas tree when you might not have put it up yet. But you can book now for a charity Christmas tree collection in aid of Dorothy House. The hospice is launching its third collection fundraiser in partnership with the Just Helping charity. Last year 1,000 trees were collected in the Bath area, raising more than £13,000. This year the charity is offering Christmas tree collections in BA1 and BA2 in Bath and North East Somerset and BA11, BA12, BA13, BA14, BA15, SN12 and SN13 in Somerset and Wiltshire. Dorothy House supporters and volunteers will make pre-booked collections of Christmas trees in exchange for an online donation between January 11 and 13. Dorothy House is offering a limited capacity collection which relies on volunteers and local businesses, if you’d like to support the hospice by providing a vehicle or offering your time as a volunteer contact verity.clark@dorothyhousehospice.org.uk. Dorothy House asks for a donation to help fund the specialist palliative and end of life care services provided free by the hospice to patient and carers, their family. All trees must be pre-booked online, ready for collection from 8am on Friday, January 11 and clearly marked ‘Dorothy House.’ Trees can be collected from businesses, schools, churches and homes. Dorothy House’s Christmas Tree Collection scheme is supported by local businesses providing vans and volunteers including Wessex Water, Islington Motors from Trowbridge, SW Machinery Hire from Lacock and Lackham Agriculture College in Melksham. Other supporters include paving company, Sureset in Warminster, Pearns Tree Services and Inspired Joinery both from Frome and the Bradford on Avon Rotary Club. While 90 per cent of the money raised, after costs, will go to Dorothy House, 10 per cent of funds raised will go to other local charities. Over Christmas, 50 carers from Dorothy House and their ‘Hospice at Home’ service will travel more than 6,000 miles and carry out in excess of 200 home visits. This service provides nearly 2,000 hours of care to our community, giving patients and their families the precious memory of Christmas together at home. Verity Clark, community fundraiser for Dorothy House Hospice Care said: “This is our third Christmas tree collection and we’re looking forward to helping local people recycle their used Christmas trees while also raising vital funds for Dorothy House. “A big thank you to all our volunteers and our supporters for their generous help and thanks also to Bath and North East Somerset Council for the use of their recycling centre.” To book a Christmas tree collection and donate to Dorothy House please visit www.charityxmastreecollection.com. You can also email verity.clark@ dorothyhouse-hospice.org.uk, call 01225 721 480, or visit www.dorothyhouse.org.uk.