CHRISTMAS is a time for giving – and this festive season the Redditch Standard has joined with local charity Acts of Kindness to support its annual appeal to bring a little joy for struggling residents here in Redditch.
Led by the Reverend Robin Baker, Acts of Kindness has, for the past seven years, run its festive appeal helping hundreds of families enjoy the kind of Christmas we all deserve.
This year is no different, only this time around the demand is even greater, says Rev Baker.
“This year we’ve had a 47 per cent increase in the number of families referred to us and we are expecting that number to increase,” he said.
He is appealing for people to donate toys or money and also any ‘little luxuries’ which might help bring a little cheer to hard up families.
“Last year we helped 670 people and families in Redditch and more than 300 children – and the demand is growing,” said Rev Baker, whose organisation runs the borough’s foodbank from St Stephen’s Church in the town centre.
Acts of Kindness, based at the Oasis Centre on the corner of Plymouth Road and Bromsgrove Road, has seen its annual appeal grow from distributing toys to 40 children to the massive Christmas operation it is now.
All recipients of help are referred first to the charity so donors know their contributions go to the most deserving cases in the borough.
“We’re starting to purchase toys now and any donations, whether of toys or money would be extremely welcome,” said Rev Baker.
He is also appealing for volunteers to help at the charity’s annual Christmas food collection at Tesco’s in Coldfield Drive on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 where shoppers are given a list of food which they might like to buy one or two items from for the town’s needy families.
“We need people to talk to shoppers and hand out leaflets and also to crate up the food and possibly move it to our distribution centre,” said Rev Baker.
“As well as the usual tins of beans and soup we’ll also asking people to donate a little luxury this year, whether it’s a box of chocolates or a Christmas pud.”
Donations can be dropped off at the Oasis Centre on week day mornings.
Any cheque donations should be made payable to Acts of Kindness. For more details email: [email protected] or call the Rev Baker on 07977 432031.
