Helping The Local Community At Christmas
As the festive season draws to a close, we reflect on a year that was a labour of love for The Greenaway Foundation. With a year in the planning, our ambitious goal was to provide food for 1,000 families and make 4,000 wishes come true. While we did not quite reach these targets, we came remarkably close by assisting 953 families this Christmas.
This year has been transformative for The Greenaway Foundation, marked by significant growth and the establishment of a more structured framework within our charity. We have also expanded our range of events aimed at raising funds to support our local community.
Our dedicated team of “reindeer” travelled far and wide this Christmas, reaching as far north as Banstead in Surrey and making numerous deliveries along the south coast, including Brighton, Shoreham, and even Goring-by-Sea. The spirit of community was palpable, with over 101 volunteers eager to wrap wishes, 129 elves generously donating their time to pack hampers and load sleighs, and an astounding 250 individuals stepping up to serve as reindeer.
In our quest to enhance our operations, we decided to experiment with new systems this Christmas, looking towards the future and our ambition to assist even more families. While not everything went according to plan—timing issues arose, with boxes and chickens arriving late, and a rather unexpected incident where 123 chickens seemed to have escaped—we managed to adapt swiftly. Our supplier faced challenges in providing replacements, but to our relief, Sherwood Foods in Charlwood stepped in at the last moment with frozen chickens, ensuring that we could continue our mission without significant disruption.
Despite these hurdles, we are proud to report that we completed the event by 12 noon, a testament to the resilience and dedication of our volunteers.
In a heartwarming conclusion to the day, several elves gathered on Sara’s bench at Oriel High School to raise a glass in celebration of another successful year. This has become a cherished tradition in memory of Sara, one of our trustees who sadly passed away a few years ago due to a brain tumour. Her spirit continues to inspire us as we strive to make a difference in our community.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to refining our processes and expanding our reach. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s efforts. Together, we are making a tangible impact, and we look forward to an even brighter future in the coming year.
