Caring Council staff, councillors and local people pitch in to help families have a better Christmas
County Council employees and councillors have joined forces with local residents to support disadvantaged families who will have little or nothing under the tree on Christmas morning.
In just three days last week, Council employees and councillors donated and amassed hundreds of Christmas presents for disadvantaged children. The presents will be handed over to the children and young people by members of the Council’s social care teams in time for Christmas. The Christmas present appeal was led by Paul Irwin, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transportation.
The Council’s present appeal was in addition to presents collected and donated by the members of Aylesbury’s Salvation Army Church, as well as Olympian long-jumper and Sports Personality of the Year finalist Greg Rutherford, and his partner Susie Verrill who live locally, who had carried out their own Christmas present appeal.
Paul said: “I was overwhelmed and very moved by the kindness shown by local people and I wanted to do something myself so I organised a Christmas present appeal, asking staff and councillors to donate a small present each. Our employees have risen to the occasion and I would like to thank every one of them for their generosity in providing all the presents for our disadvantaged children. We have had hundreds of presents and we are totally overwhelmed by the response from our staff.
“I’d like to also thank Aylesbury Salvation Army Church and local residents including Greg and Susie for their commitment to give others a good Christmas.
“It will mean so much to all the children on Christmas morning to wake up to brand new presents, knowing how much people actually care about them.”