Pictured above: Cllr Zoe Nolan and Tina Price, Children and Family Centres Manager with some of the gifts prepared at Moorlands Family Centre
Milton Keynes City Council has received hundreds of donations to its 17 Children and Family Centres. Thousands of pounds in financial support, food and gifts have been donated via the local community – businesses, organisations, and individuals.
This month, more than 500 individual hampers have been created by City Council staff with help from local organisations. These typically include basic food items as well as Christmas treats, selection boxes, toys for children and gifts for adults. These will be distributed to selected families in the run up to Christmas.
The MK Christian Centre has donated £2,500 of supermarket vouchers plus 100 board games for local children and young people.
All Children and Family centres have also put on festive displays and parties for their local community including Moorlands Family Centre in Beanhill. The centre arranged for a visit from Boris and Nisha, two reindeer as part of the Holiday Activity Fund attended by more than 40 children.
Pictured above: Cllr Zoe Nolan with the reindeer at Moorlands Family Centre in Beanhill
“We’re incredibly lucky to have such a supportive community across our city. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, organisations, and individuals, we’ll be able to make a real difference for some of those families who may be struggling. I also want to thank our Children and Family Centres who have gone above and beyond to create wonderful festive experiences for children."
Santander, Plumbing and Gas Solutions, Baby Basics, Church Without Walls, Salvation Army, MK Dons, Salvation Army, Tash Darling and her big Family Charity in connection with Woughton Community Council, Food Bank, Church without walls, Caritas Bags of Kindness, Faith Dimensions, Molly’s Pantry, Aspley Guise Village School, Arla, Loughton School, Knowles School, St Edmund’s Church, members of the public and council colleagues have also contributed to the Christmas hampers and gifts.
Local farmer Roger Weston at Yardley Gobion also provided free Christmas trees to decorate the Children and Family Centres, and these will be donated to families.