A group of volunteers who help families in need at Christmas have issued an urgent plea for financial backing.
Since 2020, the Workington Community Emergency Response Group has helped almost 600 families in crisis from Silloth to Workington navigate the festive period by supplying enough food to see them over the Christmas holiday.
However, this year, the volunteers fear they will not be able to help as funding for the project has been scarce.
It costs around £35,000 – and while the group said they have enough volunteers for packing up bags and donations in kind, this year they had grave concerns that they would not be able to buy the food needed that has helped so many in the past.
The small group – Hughie Stamper, Tony Wareing, Paul Scott, Hayley Bishop and Liam Darby – are appealing for any businesses to step forward who can help them make 2025’s Christmas less stressful for people in need.
Hughie said: “We’ve got around £10,000 so far – by this stage normally we’ve got the full amount we need. If somebody doesn’t step forward to help us, we’re at serious risk of having to say we can’t do it this year.”
Families are referred for the free food bags by agencies.
Last year, 52 organisations, including councils, housing associations, schools and food banks, referred 584 households.
Volunteers packed 1,745 bags with the 11,835 items bought, which gave people in need enough food for three days.
Tony said: “We’re hoping businesses in the area will be able to support the initiative. We’re just a group of people who started this in 2020, we’re not a formal organisation but it makes such a huge difference, we hope there are firms out there who will see the benefits of being involved.”
In 2024, 272 food parcels were delivered in Workington, 114 in Maryport, 56 in Wigton, 52 in Aspatria, 43 in Cockermouth and 33 in Silloth.
Hughie added: “If a business is kind enough to donate money and wants the cash spent in a particular area, we can do that too.
“Each bag also has a leaflet in, detailing who has helped.”
“The future of this is really at a crisis point and we need financial help.”
Anyone who can help financially is asked to email [email protected]
