Big thank you for gift fund support

Please may I thank everyone who played a part in supporting the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Gift Fund again this year. In the few weeks just before Christmas we distributed, in the name of the Lord Mayor, 500 grocery parcels and gift vouchers for younger children from our community.

Our charity (established in 1952) is dependent on the financial support of many individuals and local companies in enabling us to continue, so may I thank everyone who gave us money, gave up their time to collect for the Fund, packed our parcels, or helped us with deliveries. Money is still coming in to us and we are hoping that we shall reach our target in the New Year and thus be in a position to match our activity next Christmas.

On Christmas Eve the open-air carols in Rose Square were enjoyed by many and we were pleased to welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury on top of our bus to give his Christmas blessing. We should like also to express our thanks to Canterbury City Council who made this event possible. The evening was supported by Canterbury’s fantastic Salvation Army Band, St Stephen’s church choir and conductor, Grenville Hancox. The retiring collection raised £5,308, which was amazing!

We believe that there is a need for what we do each year to benefit local residents and hope therefore that we might count on your support again in 2019. Thank you all.