Every donation, big or small, will make a difference to someone in need this winter!
This Christmas, the smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference to someone in need. Buckinghamshire Council’s Christmas giving campaign, “Christmas Angels” highlights five local charities and encourages Buckinghamshire residents in a position to be able to donate, to consider making a contribution to one of these worthy causes.
The Christmas Angels campaign sees Buckinghamshire Council working with five local charities, dubbed ‘the festive five’, to help promote a variety of winter and Christmas appeals. The festive five includes: Heart of Bucks (Together Against Poverty), Inspire Bucks (Christmas Toy Appeal), Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse, Chiltern Foodbank and One Can Trust.
From giving hope to someone living in poverty in Buckinghamshire, or helping every child experience the magic of Christmas, to enabling local organisations to provide essential items and emergency food parcels to reduce food poverty – every donation, big or small, will make a difference to someone in need this winter.
The Together Against Poverty appeal, from Heart of Bucks, aims to raise funds to provide essentials such as clothing, food and heat to families and individuals experiencing significant hardship and distress in Buckinghamshire. Support will help individuals and families facing food, shelter, fuel or digital poverty access the immediate help they need, as well as help to turn their lives around and make a change for themselves and their families.
Sadly, not all children are guaranteed a gift to open on Christmas morning, but that is where residents of Buckinghamshire can assist Inspire Bucks with their Christmas Gift Appeal. The appeal aims to ensure that some of the most disadvantaged local children and young people (ranging from babies to care leavers up to the age of 25) get at least one gift to open this Christmas.
Inspire Bucks works closely with council social workers, schools and food banks to identify recipients. Monetary donations are used to buy suitable gifts for the children and young people, ensuring everyone will receive at least one gift. Last year, the appeal supported over 4,000 children thanks to the support and generosity of Buckinghamshire residents.
One Can Trust, Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse and Chiltern Foodbank provide essential items including but not limited to emergency food parcels for local people on low incomes, benefits or who would otherwise find themselves in temporary hardship.
Financial donations are welcomed by all three organisations enabling the foodbanks to top up provisions and/or keep the food bank running at a time of severe pressure. One Can Trust uses invaluable donations to also support other services such as lunch and dinner clubs and provide support to parents with young children to help local people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Arif Hussain, Cabinet Member for Communities, commented: “Every year we are overwhelmed by the generosity of local people who donate to charities, organisations and good causes across Buckinghamshire. This support makes a huge difference to so many disadvantaged individuals, families and children across the county. I know we are all still facing high cost of living pressures, but I would ask those who are able to support our Christmas Angels campaign and give to any of the festive five worthwhile causes, to contribute where they can. Every pound donated goes directly to those in need to make sure everyone feels cared for this Christmas.”
Be a Christmas Angel and find out more and donate to any of the festive five this Christmas by visiting: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/christmas-angels.