The season of goodwill as generous people give to several great appeals in Hartlepool

The season of goodwill was well and truly on shown in Hartlepool with people giving to a number of appeals.
From left: The big hamper project shop at Morrisons with Poolie Time Exchange and Steelworks social club, Rebecca Carney of Lindisfarne care home, and some of Radio Hartlepool's gift appeal donations.From left: The big hamper project shop at Morrisons with Poolie Time Exchange and Steelworks social club, Rebecca Carney of Lindisfarne care home, and some of Radio Hartlepool's gift appeal donations.
From left: The big hamper project shop at Morrisons with Poolie Time Exchange and Steelworks social club, Rebecca Carney of Lindisfarne care home, and some of Radio Hartlepool's gift appeal donations.

Hundreds of children and families in need, and pensioners, received brand new toys and delicious festive food thanks to organisations including Poolie Time Exchange, Radio Hartlepool and Middleton Grange shopping centre.

Radio Hartlepool’s annual toy appeal saw thousands of presents worth an estimated £30,000 donated by listeners.

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The radio station also teamed up with Middleton Grange’s massively successful Virtual Giving Tree and The Printers in Murray Street to boost the collection.

From left: Morrison's community champion Luke Ellerton, Hartlepool Steelworks social club members Dwane Douglas and Brian Minton, Rachael Budd and Dave Hunter from Poolie Time Exchange.From left: Morrison's community champion Luke Ellerton, Hartlepool Steelworks social club members Dwane Douglas and Brian Minton, Rachael Budd and Dave Hunter from Poolie Time Exchange.
From left: Morrison's community champion Luke Ellerton, Hartlepool Steelworks social club members Dwane Douglas and Brian Minton, Rachael Budd and Dave Hunter from Poolie Time Exchange.

Gifts were given to The Annexe (Wharton Trust) and Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services with transport help from Artistic Solutions and Niramax.

Hartlepool Ambulance Charity also delivered gifts to a number of addresses in town.

Radio Hartlepool managing director Jason Anderson said: “This year has been a real team effort breaking all expectations.

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”I’d like to thank absolutely everybody for making sure children in Hartlepool woke up on Christmas morning with a gift to open.”

Some of the thousands of children's toys received by Radio Hartlepool's annual Christmas appeal.Some of the thousands of children's toys received by Radio Hartlepool's annual Christmas appeal.
Some of the thousands of children's toys received by Radio Hartlepool's annual Christmas appeal.

Elsewhere, community workers at Poolie Time Exchange made 200 hampers, including Christmas dinners, delivered on Christmas Eve.

A large amount of the food for the Christmas Angel project was provided by members of the town’s South Durham (Steelworks) social club.

Every year, club members hold a Christmas charity fundraiser but with it being closed due to Covid restrictions, organiser Dwane Douglas set up a WhatsApp group for cash donations.

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Along with sponsors Joe’s Skips and TIA Haulage it raised £1,200 which was spent on trolley loads of food at Morrisons.

Middleton Grange manager Mark Rycraft presents some of the Giving Tree gifts to Rebecca Carney from Lindisfarne care home.Middleton Grange manager Mark Rycraft presents some of the Giving Tree gifts to Rebecca Carney from Lindisfarne care home.
Middleton Grange manager Mark Rycraft presents some of the Giving Tree gifts to Rebecca Carney from Lindisfarne care home.

Dave Hunter from Poolie Time Exchange said: “The food that Dwane and the lads contributed has been a massive donation towards the hampers and we really appreciate it.

"It means we can send out about 200 hampers to families we know are in financial difficulty this Christmas and people who have contacted us.”

And residents at Lindisfarne care home received a number of gifts thanks to Middleton Grange’s giving tree appeal.

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Activity coordinator Rebecca Carney collected more than enough presents for the home’s 54 residents including pyjamas, perfume, dressing gowns, sweets and blankets.

Rebecca said: “It will make a massive difference. Quite a few residents don’t have any family and it shows that there is somebody thinking of them.

"A special thank you to Mark Rycraft at Middleton Grange.”

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You've made Christmas special for needy kids

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