Community-minded care home residents give helping hand to families in need
Kind-hearted residents of Avon Reach care home are doing their bit to prepare and deliver hundreds of packed lunches to families in need over the summer.
Avon Reach in Mudeford is a hive of activity as items are sorted to fill 40 gift bags that are then taken to Christchurch Food Bank+ each Thursday morning.
The home’s contribution spans all six weeks of the main school summer holiday, meaning 240 packs will be distributed in all.
Items include sandwiches, fruit and snack treats.
On receipt of the bags, the food bank team allocate them with priority given to families of children eligible for free school lunches in term time.
The input of Avon Reach residents comes after they nominated the food bank as their main charity and community cause to support this year.
As she helped prepare the latest set of packs, resident Josephine Salisse said: “It’s lovely to be able to help and support this local charity.”
Tracy Blick, Manager of Christchurch Food Bank+, said: “We are so grateful for donations and it is lovely to think that older generations are prepared to help.”
Ruth Wildman, Home Manager of coastal-themed Avon Reach, said: “Our residents have long-standing community connections that they cherish.
“We do all we can to help them maintain those links and supporting the food bank is a prime example of that.”
In July, Avon Reach celebrated its 30th anniversary with a cocktail party and auction in aid of the food bank.
It was attended by residents, families, team members, neighbours and community contacts and raised nearly £900.
Christchurch Food Bank+ is based at St Joseph’s Church in Purewell. For more information, visit www.faith-works.org.uk.