Telford Food Bank hands out Christmas cheer to families
More than 120 parcels of food have been handed out to families in need across Telford in time for Christmas.
The food has been distributed by officials at Telford Food Bank along with presents which have been given out to children in the area.
It is believed that the parcels, which were filled with festive goodies including a chicken, vegetables, mince pies, chocolates and crisps, will feed about 500 people over the Christmas period.
As well as arranging the hampers, the group also prepared 100 emergency hampers for those in need.
Jake Bennett, Crisis Network co-ordinator, said: "I can honestly say this is the highlight of my life, one neighbour helping another over Christmas."
Several volunteers were helping out at the food bank in Madeley yesterday, delivering parcels and handing out toys.
One of the volunteers, Cat Cantlay, 34, from Stirchley, said: "It's really important that we become less selfish as a society and look after the most vulnerable people."
Also helping out on the day were Vicky Patterson and June Walker who work as community life champions for Asda Donnington and Asda Telford. The supermarkets had also made donations of food, including 40 chickens for the hampers.
A charitable scheme called A Christmas Smile was also set up by volunteers in partnership with the crisis network to collect toys for Telford children.
Small gifts were given to all children in Telford who will be living in difficult circumstances this Christmas, including any child who has been through the crisis network in December, children housed in the women's refuges, children awaiting adoption and those in supported housing schemes like Stay Telford.
The group believes it has collected more than 350 toys from donations made by people in Telford.
Martina Boshell, 48, from Ketley, had helped organise the scheme. She said: "People have been incredibly generous, I'm very proud of the Telford community because they have done such a lot."
One mother, who did not want to be named and who was at the food bank to collect a donation with her daughter, said she was "overwhelmed" by the generosity of the charity.
