Birling woman appeals for help to make hampers for the elderly who will miss out on their Christmas lunch this year
11:12, 23 November 2020
updated: 11:13, 23 November 2020
Every year for the past five years Emillie Hobden from Birling has collected gifts to hand out at Christmas lunches for the elderly and vulnerable.
She calculates that she must have collected 2,500 presents in that time.
She said: "I've given out presents at the Involve Kent Christmas lunches in Maidstone - or Aylesford as it was last year - and the SSFA (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) lunches in West Kingsdown.
"Then any left over I've given to the Salvation Army to pass on or handed in to local care homes."
This year, with Covid, things are going to be a lot different.
She said: "It's pretty likely that a lot of the Christmas lunches won't take place. meaning that many of the elderly will go this season with no-one to celebrate with which is incredibly sad."
So instead of presents, Miss Hobden is asking for donations of food. She said: "I'm hoping to deliver a Christmas food hamper to all those who wont be able to attend a Christmas lunch."
'It's more important than ever for the elderly to feel they are not forgotten'
"We can still give them a day to remember!
"I feel that now more than ever, a lot of the elderly in our community really need this."
She made this appeal: "If you could pick up a little something suitable to put in a Christmas hamper or add it to your next weekly shop, you could help make someone’s Christmas that little bit brighter.
"Any written Christmas cards would also be gratefully received.
The Bean Rush Cafe at 46 King Street in West Malling, is acting as a drop-off point.
There is a box there to leave donations. The cafe remains open for takeaway service during the lockdown.
Miss Hobden promised: "The box will be frequently sanitised, as will all the donations."
She said: "I realise that it will be harder than ever to donate this year, but it is also more important than ever for the elderly to feel they are not forgotten."
Miss Hobden can be contacted on emillie1@msn.com
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