MORE than 200 shoeboxes full of gifts have been donated to lonely and vulnerable elderly people across Teesside this Christmas.
The appeal, which has been organised by the Hill Care Group in Stockton on Tees, has been hailed as a huge success.
Ingleby Care Home, on Lamb Lane in Ingleby Barwick, The Beeches Care Home, on Green Lane in Newtown, and Mandale House Care Home, on Acklam Road in Thornaby, have all received donations directly from the public.
They have also been supported by their local Tesco store, on Durham Road, which provided the largest contribution to the appeal.
The Middlesbrough FC Foundation has also donated gifts, following a year of activities and events with the care homes throughout 2016.
Jayne Chapman, Tesco Stockton Community Champion, said: “The Hill Care shoebox appeal will ensure elderly people within our community, who have no one to share Christmas with this year, will receive a gift.
“A simple shoebox full of chocolates, toiletries and other festive treats will mean the world to a local resident. We want to say a big thank you to all our customers who dropped an item into our donation bins at the store.”
Liz Jones, Customer Relations Officer at Hill Care, said: “The shoebox appeal has been a huge success this year. We can’t thank the local community, Tesco and the MFC Foundation enough for their support.
“These gifts will make a huge difference to so many people this Christmas. Anyone who donated can be extremely proud they have helped the most vulnerable across Teesside during what can be the loneliest time of year for many.”