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The recent community Christmas Giving Campaign received over 70 gifts and £700 in donations from local businesses, community groups and residents.
Donations
The scheme, run by Epping Forest District Council (EFDC), Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF) and Essex Police, included a crowdfunding campaign and gift donation drop-off at the Council Civic Offices in Epping.
Through a network of referrals, involving Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, Essex Police and partners from the Epping Community Hub, VAEF and Epping Forest Foodbank, local vulnerable children and young people across the district were identified and given suitable gifts from the donations.
A special thank you to Grange Farm Trust, fundraising efforts from Waltham Abbey Football Club and District Councillor Jeanie Lea, and a multiple gift-giver from Loughton for their time and donations for this campaign.
Thank you
Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Councillor Helen Kane said:
Thank you everyone involved, from those who donated gifts or money to the crowdfunding to those who gave their time to wrap and deliver the presents. This campaign celebrates partnership working and the importance of bringing a community together to help the district’s vulnerable children have a great Christmas at these challenging times.
A message from Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust
Karen Bowden, Family Support Worker at Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust (EFSPT) said:
30 children within our trust schools and beyond will be receiving gifts because of your generosity. The families have expressed their thanks and gratitude. I know what a great help this will be to them. So, to everyone who donated, purchased, wrapped and delivered a very big thank you from EFSPT.
Sarah Hurwood, Wellbeing Lead for EFSPT added:
I know that the donations our EFSPT families receive make a big difference and we are hugely grateful to everyone involved.
Epping Community Hub
The Epping Community Hub opened in September 2021. It provides space for residents to get support and advice from EFDC and community partner organisations including, Citizens Advice, Epping Forest Foodbank, CHESS Homeless.
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