Over 80s appeal is up and running again
NWN launches annual fund to bring festive cheer to elderly in West Berks
CHRISTMAS is well on its way for the Newbury Weekly News Parcel Fund.
The Over 80s fund was officially launched on Monday at Sainsbury’s in Newbury by mayor Gary Norman, Sainsbury’s deputy store manager Jon Sellen, Sainsbury’s community champion Carol Irwin, Newbury Weekly News deputy editor Sarah Bosley, Jaz Ghalley from Greenham Trust and Jo Fulker, the co-ordinator of the parcel fund.
The aim of the Parcel Fund – started by a former editor of the NWN Frank Stillman – was to remember the elderly people, many of whom were living in the workhouse that used to be in Newbury, known as the ‘House on the Hill’.
If you had been receiving the NWN Christmas parcel in the late 1800s the women would have been given a bag
of tea and the men a tin of tobacco.
Times have changed enormously over the last 100 years and today the parcels go out
to anyone aged 80 or over, living in Newbury, Thatcham or Hungerford that we have been given the names of.
Each year we now deliver nearly 1,800 parcels, which of course costs a great deal more than it used to cost 100 years ago.
But with the generosity and kindness of so many people and local businesses we have be able to continue with what is still a truly local cause.
Fundraising is now in full swing, both with business donations coming in, personal donations and on Tuesday night our first fundraising event of the year.
This week we would like to send a big thank you to Donnington Hospital Trust, Newbury Building Society and Rivar Ltd for starting the business fundraising and also, of course, to Greenham Trust for match funding and doubling the money.
The Primary School Quiz night was the first fundraising event and thanks go to Stockcross Primary School for hosting the quiz this year.
The winners of the quiz – who were presented with our new trophy – were the hosts at Stockcross Primary School.
They were closely followed by the pupils from Hermitage Primary School.
My thanks go to all the other children from Years 5 and 6 who took part, none of whom were far behind, and it is great to see how much intelligence there is in West Berkshire schools!
The evening raised another £200 towards the food we need for the parcels this year.
Many of us are so busy rushing around that we don’t realise that there are many elderly people without families to support them and 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 counts.
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.
For anything else relating to the parcel fund, including possible fundraising events, please email jo.fulker@newburynews.co.uk
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 go to https:// app.thegoodexchange.com/ project/19727/newbury-weekly-news/newbury-weeklynews-over-80s-parcel-fund-2022 or scan the QR code below.
Alternatively, please send a cheque made payable to ‘Greenham Trust Ltd’ for the attention of Jo Fulker, Newbury News, Faraday Road, Newbury.
To find out all the latest news on the Parcel Fund, keep an eye on the Newbury Weekly News each week until Christmas.