Festive Food Pantry Supports In Need Families.

Chartwell House Care Home, Broadstairs, and the Parish of St Lawrence have successfully supported over 30 families with their Festive Food Pantry on December 17^th.

The event hosted at St Christophers Church on Saturday December 17^th welcomed over 30 in need families and provided parcels of much needed festive food items and toys to make Christmas 2022, a little easier.

Donations were collected ahead of the event with the community across Thanet, coming together in the spirit of Christmas with individuals, community groups and local businesses giving generously to support those in food poverty.

Speaking after the event, Festive Food Pantry Co-founder and Admissions Manager at Chartwell House Care Home, Jude Coveney, expressed her sincere thanks to all those who contributed.

“It was a fantastic day today! We made lots of families smile which at this time of year can be very difficult for those most in need. We were able to give some very much needed donations to families who had a real need for a gift of goodwill. This was a very emotionally charged event and we are truly thankful to all those who donated. I am very proud of everyone involved.”

Items at this year Festive Food Pantry included Christmas staples such as; Christmas Puddings, Sprouts, Toys for younger Children, Biscuits, Crackers, Cereals, Jams, Parsnips, Sweets, Pasta and much more.

Ameet Kotecha, MD and Head of the Family at Boutique Care Homes, donated 200 items to the Festive Food Pantry as Boutique Care Homes, commented on the impact of the event.

“As a new business coming in to Broadstairs it was always our intention to champion good causes. We are delighted that one of the first we were able to support was the Festive Food Pantry. To hear from Jude that 30 families benefited was extremely positive and we hope that all those who made use of the Festive Food Pantry are able to have a Merry Christmas.”

Chartwell House Care Home and the Parish of St Lawrence would like to publicly thank everyone who donated to this good cause including:

• Morrisons £15 voucher
• Waitrose Ramsgate £15 voucher
• Tesco Extra Broadstairs £15 voucher
• ASDA Broadstairs £15 voucher
• Caremark Domiciliary Care – Food collection by staff, six bag donations.
• Nash Farm (one of our suppliers) – Apples
• Tesco Express Ramsgate - £30 of food donated
• WI Broadstairs – donations (individuals)
• Sainsbury Broadstairs - Hamper
• Lidl - x2 bottles of bubbly
• Boutique Care Homes - 200 Food Items.
• Don and Diane - £20 donation
• Parish Secretary - £20 donation
• Chartwell House staff donations
• MK Services (Mobile mechanic) £25 amazon voucher and a bottle of bubbly
• Spenser House Food collection donation
• Lidl Broadstairs – Trolley full of potatoes, sprouts and carrots

During the event – volunteers also took food parcels out to those living on the streets in the local town as well as hand delivering to these families in need around the Parish.

With a week to go until Christmas 2022, left-over donations have been taken to the Salvation Army to support even more families in need.

Jacqueline Freestone, Community Programme Organiser said “I know exactly where the apples would go, there is a local homeless man that will love them.”

Whilst delivering the items, volunteers at the Salvation Army were said to be “thrilled” with the donation.