Pictured: Cllr Joe Hearnshaw, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People with some of the team at The Saplings Family Centre in Bletchley
Milton Keynes City Council has welcomed thousands of pounds worth of festive food, gifts and other support donated by local businesses, organisations, and communities to its 10 Family Centres.
City Council staff have used the donations to put together more than 800 hampers of essential food and Christmas treats, with selection boxes and toys for children and gifts for adults. These will be shared with families in the run up to Christmas.
All Family Centres have put on festive displays, lunches, raffles and parties for their local communities.
“We’re very grateful for our generous donors who make sure families in need get extra support, especially during the winter months. These contributions make a real difference to families alongside the help offered by our Family Centres, who aside from managing these donations, go above and beyond to create wonderful festive experiences for local children.”
Loughton School, Baby Basics, The Salvation Army, Mollys Pantry, The Stables, The Hygiene Bank, Venture Church, Oakgrove Secondary School, MK DONS Community Trust, M&M Supplies, Citizens Advice Bureau, Faith Dimensions, Aspley Guise Golf Club, Foodbank, Caritas and local author Iain Row alongside numerous members of the community and the City Council itself have all contributed to the Christmas hampers and gifts.
Several Family Centres have also had ‘giving trees’ during December where members of the public could choose a gift tag and donate a gift for a family.
The help continues through the festive break. Milton Keynes City Council is funding a programme of FREE activity sessions and meals to give extra support to local families during the Christmas school holidays. The activity sessions are exclusively available to children, young people, and their families in receipt of benefit related Free School Meals.
Find details of local support and advice at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/cost-living-support