Volunteers at Southport Football Club have been busy today putting together Christmas hampers for local families in need through the Fill A Family Stocking Appeal.
Christine and Hamish have been at the club on Haig Avenue busy preparing over 50 food hampers to bring smiles to the faves of local families this Christmas.
They have thanked Class 7CC at Meols Cop High School in Southport for their fundraising this morning, and everyone else who has helped the appeal so far.
Christmas can be a very difficult time for many families, and this year in particular with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be more families that will have to cut back, or will unfortunately go without.
Southport Football Club and Southport Football Club Charity Foundation have now teamed up Express Performing Arts Academy and open their doors, along with many other businesses in the area, and act as a collection centre for the recently launched Southport Community Christmas – Fill A Family Stocking Appeal.
Danielle Clark from Express Performing Arts Academy said: “When lockdown was announced, Express Performing Arts Academy started to think about our local community, and families within the area who might be struggling in the build up to Christmas. Christmas can be an amazing time for so many people, but it can also be a tough time for others, and this year more so than ever.
“We launched our campaign ‘Fill a Family Stocking’ in collaboration with the P&F group in Churchtown, which kindly offered to host as our original donation centre.
“After launching the idea to other local businesses, they were more than eager to jump on board and within 24 hours we had 18 local businesses to help to promote the campaign and to donate to this fantastic cause.
“The campaign reached new heights when James Tedford contacted us from Southport Football Club and wanted to help us to promote the campaign further, and to also act as a second donation centre.
“We are thrilled with the response so far and hope that we can really make a difference.
“Our hope is that we will fill stockings for local families who may be in need of some support and deliver gifts to them in December.
“Our aim is to deliver gifts, for all ages, within a family setting, from babies’ first Christmas, right through to Grandparents.
“One small gift can go such a long way.
“Donations of new, unwrapped gifts are welcome each Friday in November at the P&F group, the old Lloyds bank in Churchtown 10am-3pm and at Southport Football Club Monday to Friday 10am-3pm and on match days between 12pm-2pm.
“We are working closely with some local charities who work with families within our community who may benefit from the campaign, we really want to offer help to those people who need it this year.
“Thank you so much for the many kind donations that we have received so far.
“We hope you can help us to spread a little happiness and help as many families as we can!”
Do you have any stories for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
