AN appeal to ensure those in need this Christmas were not forgotten has been greeted with an “amazing” response, with Teesdale people backing it with their hearts and wallets.
When TCR Hub, in Barnard Castle, distributed 3,000 leaflets asking for urgent donations to its care packages scheme, staff didn’t expect to be inundated with bags of shopping. But that’s exactly what happened and the effort ensured isolated residents and those in need across the dale have received essential food items, along with a few treats, this festive period.
TCR Hub chief executive Rachel Tweddle said: “We delivered 60 family boxes delivered and 60 for single people and nine for couples – and that was just on Saturday.
“The generosity has been absolutely amazing. The response has far outweighed what we expected. People want to do something positive for the community and that was quite easy with this idea. All people needed to do was buy a couple of extra bits and pieces from the shop and leave them outside the front door to be collected.”
In November, the Hub’s appealed for donations after saying it was running short of long-life products such as tinned soup and fruit, cereals, biscuits and pasta for the households the scheme supports.
Some 40 volunteers were each assigned a street to pick up donations and were staggered when shopping bags full of items began mounting up.
“They were coming back with car loads. It’s going to last us into next year when there will still be people in need. This isn’t just a Christmas appeal,” said Ms Tweddle.
Glaxo donated three van-loads of food – The Hub donated a third to a Bishop Auckland foodbank and a third to one in Darlington.
Many other dale businesses dug deep to help, with fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and supplies being donated.
“Winston Parish Church wrapped presents for families and donated those – that came out of the blue but shows the scale of it,” said Ms Tweddle. “We’d like to say thank you to everyone.”
To be eligible, people must be affected by Covid – for example losing employment or being too anxious to go shopping.
The Hub has now secured funding for a worker to help with the care package scheme and other community work.
For more details about the care packages, see www.tcrhub.co.uk/tcr-food-provision-2.
Regular updates are also posted on The Hub’s Facebook page.
