A Christmas food project has been launched in Allerdale.
Cumbria County Council’s Allerdale Community Development Officer team has co-ordinated the Christmas Food Provision project, which aims to ensure the provision of food over the festive period for care leavers, families in need of support, vulnerable adults who are elderly, disabled, and also those who are homeless.
The project has been funded by Cumbria Community Foundation, DEFRA, the county council’s Allerdale local committee, alongside a donation from Workington Town Rugby Club of £5,000 and a collection of toys for children.
Support groups across Allerdale have worked together to use the funding to help as many people as possible at Christmas time.
So far, there have been 440 referrals for the family-sized Christmas food parcels, following engagement with the council’s community development officers in schools, care homes and community groups.
A further 70 families are being supported with a £70 food shopping voucher after they were referred to the project by their child’s school.
Care leavers are also being provided with food vouchers, and people who spend Christmas Day alone will also receive a meal for one.
Homeless people who are in temporary accommodation will receive a Christmas lunch along with a treat bag, and people from the Workington area who have been referred to the project and are elderly or vulnerable will receive a meal for one from Workington Rotary Club, with further funding provided by Cumbria Community Foundation.
The Community Development Team in Allerdale have also worked with the local supermarket Morrisons bulk purchase team and Pioneer to procure the food for the family Christmas food parcels.
Workington Rotary Clubs, Cockermouth Rotary, Workington Community Emergency Response Group and Workington Inner Wheel have recruited volunteers to assist with the packing and delivery of the 440 Christmas food parcels delivered so far.
Councillor Tony Markley, Chair of the county council’s local committee for Allerdale, said:
“I’d like to thank all of the local organisations involved in funding, procuring and delivering these food parcels and the many volunteers who work behind the scenes to ensure that the people most in need of support in our local communities, are able to get it.
“This is a fantastic example of organisations working in partnership to help those in need, and of the wonderful sense of community and festive spirit we have in Allerdale.
“My thanks also to the Community Development team for all of their hard work to bring this important project together. Merry Christmas to all.”
