People in need this Christmas will be receiving gifts full of festive cheer thanks to a special project led by a kind-hearted Norwich family.
About eight van loads of donated toys, clothes, food and other items were being wrapped or put into hampers throughout the weekend and they are set to be delivered today and tomorrow by Christmas Giving.
The project was the idea of 26-year-old Kirsty Powell, along with her mum Julie Powell, 51, sisters Hannah Monsey, 30, and Charlotte Monsey, 28, and cousins Beverley Bennett, 34, and Elizabeth Hirst, 24.
The family has a tradition of helping those in need at Christmas and have also been supported by an army of volunteers and received an overwhelming amount of donations from people in and around the city.
'A massive thank you to everybody who has helped and donated – we could not have done this without your help,' said Miss Powell, who lives in Dussindale.
'Christmas is all about giving. As a family, for us that makes our Christmas, knowing other people are able to sit down and enjoy it too.
'We are very lucky we have a really good family unit, and we can enjoy Christmas together, but it is sad to think that other people do not have that luxury. If we can put a smile on somebody else's face then that would make our Christmas.'
She said this year was the family's biggest Christmas project.
'We have always done shoebox hampers for the homeless and this year we wanted to extend it to help low income families and families in refuges too.' Among the good causes which have suggested people Christmas Giving could help are: Leeway, which helps people affected by domestic abuse; The House of Genesis, which provides short-term accommodation; Norwich Foodbank, which provides emergency food supplies; Petit Port bed and breakfast which offers emergency accommodation; and St Martins Housing Trust, which supports homeless people.
Individuals have also been able to nominate families who are on low incomes.
Some donations will be going to East Anglia's Children's Hospices, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and local schools.
Miss Powell said among those who would be receiving a hamper from Christmas Giving were more than 60 families and more than 25 homeless people.
Among the organisations Christmas Giving would like to thank are: Oasis Sports and Leisure Club, in Thorpe St Andrew, where all the wrapping took place at the weekend; The Co-operative in Earlham Road, Norwich; and The Sugar Beat Eating House.
Are you organising an event for charity? Email locallife@archant.co.uk
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