6th January 2020

Our Worthing Cares Christmas appeal raised nearly £5,000, allowing us to deliver many ‘goodie boxes’ to service users spending the holiday alone.

The boxes were delivered, along with much-needed socially distanced doorstep chats, by a team of over 70 volunteers. Mark Philips, Guild Care’s Volunteer Coordinator, said: “The response from our volunteers has been quite humbling and really reflects the caring and compassion they all have.”

Julie Moon was visited by Cllr Paul Baker, who is a Guild Care Trustee, and his wife, Sandra, on Christmas Day. Julie said: “Thank you everyone at Guild Care for the good wishes and hamper. I had a brilliant visit from Paul and Sandra, and we talked, masked and socially distanced. What an absolute treat. My first Christmas on my own, but I have had a very good time. Happy New Year, everyone!”

Julie Moon, who received a goodie box and a doorstep chat on Christmas Day

In addition to members of the public donating to the campaign to fund the boxes, support was also gratefully received from businesses in the Worthing community. Local companies ETI, Bacon & Company, Micawber Lettings, and Carpenter Box kindly donated items and funds to the cause, whilst Worthing’s branch of Waitrose provided a selection of goodies to stock boxes.

Alex Brooks-Johnson, our CEO, said: “I’d like to give a massive thank you to the community for coming together to support Worthing Cares, including the local companies that donated. We could only run the campaign and do our bit in battling holiday loneliness thanks to you all.”