North East Connected

Local residents spread Christmas cheer

Residents from The Gateshead Housing Company’s sheltered schemes have been showing the true spirit of Christmas by getting involved in the Christmas shoebox appeal.

The Christmas appeal, which was coordinated by Gateshead Council’s Neighbourhood Management & Volunteering team, sees the collection of wrapped shoeboxes to support refugees, the homeless and families in crisis during the festive period.

Residents took part in a wrapping event at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Low Fell this week to prepare the shoeboxes for collection.

Sheltered Scheme Officers from the housing company worked with the residents to donate items and put boxes together ready for the wrapping session. The boxes were then collected by Gateshead Council.

Mobile Sheltered Scheme Officer Craig Tilley said: “We’ve had a great response to the Christmas shoebox appeal with several residents wanting to get involved in putting together the items and wrapping the shoeboxes. Not only is it great that our residents want to help people in need this Christmas, but it encourages social interaction with other residents and helps spread some Christmas cheer.”

The shoeboxes, which are made up of small toys, hats, gloves, toiletries, sweets and other goodies, will be distributed in the run up to Christmas to disadvantaged families and individuals in Gateshead.

Cllr Linda Green, Cabinet Member for Communities and Volunteering, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of the residents at the sheltered schemes who have worked so hard to help this year’s shoebox appeal. It’s a nice project for the residents to get involved in as they can see the immediate impact it has on the local community.”

To find out more about the housing company’s services for older people call 0191 433 5356.

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