Firm brings festive cheer to city families

Housing firm Gentoo is helping to bring festive cheer to families across Sunderland this Christmas.

The organisation is of Christmas dinners and gifts, thanks to the generosity of its colleagues and partners.

With many families on Wearside hit hard financially in the last year due to the pandemic, donations have been made possible thanks to support from Sunderland City Council, Equans and Tolent.

Gen too’ s festive deliveries were first launched in 2017 and the annual appeal has grown every year since with 160 meals delivered and more than 600 gifts generously donated this Christmas.

Turkey dinner sand all the trimmings, as well as a dessert, will be hand-delivered by Gentoo colleagues on Christmas Eve, to tenants in isolation or spending Christmas on their own. Selection boxes, cuddly toys and board games are among the 600 gifts delivered to families across the city prior to Christmas Day, for those who may find it difficult to provide presents to their children.

Nigel Wilson, chief executive at Gen too Group, said :“I have been blown away by the generosity of colleagues and partners. To see more than 600 Christmas gifts donated is truly fantastic - these small acts of kindness will bring a smile to the faces of adults and children this Christmas.

“On behalf of Gentoo, I would like to thank Sunderland City Council’s school meals division, for preparing the Christmas dinners, and to Equan sand To lent for their generous gift donations.

"It’s a fantastic cause that will make a huge difference to hundreds of tenants and their families.”