Two not-for-profit community groups set up to help financially hard-pressed families are holding a joint Christmas fundraiser.
Charity@Home started up just over a year ago by mum-of-four Angie Cheney with help from family and friends.
Initially she launched a Facebook page with the aim of helping out a few families with the financial burden of Christmas.
They managed to help more than 30 families and over 100 children last year.
With growing demand for help, and the assistance of a group of big-hearted volunteers Angie launched a discount clothes shop in a container in Wishaw’s Marshall Street with all money raised going to buy food and household essentials for local families.
This year Charity@Home has joined forces with another group - Resourceful Community Volunteers - to raise money and help make this Christmas a happier time for even more families in need.
A two-day fundraiser will take place at South Wishaw Parish Church situated in East Academy Street later this month.
Angie told Lanarkshire Live : “Catherine Craig who lives in Wishaw has been doing stuff like this for years, she set up Resourceful Community Volunteers.
"We’ve been working together in the run-up to Christmas as there’s just so many families needing a bit of help.
“Instead of having it up at the container where it can be freezing we’re having the fundraiser at the church. The Minister has been so helpful and has organised Santa for us.”
NHS worker Angie knows first-hand the financial difficulties families can face. She grew up in a single-parent family, one of five kids raised by her mum.
She believes children shouldn’t still be going hungry in this day and age, but admits things are getting worse.
She added: “The UK Government have taken the extra £20 away from so many families and everything is going up in price.
“We will have a postbox, and it’s completely confidential, where parents can put a child’s name and address, their age and sizes they wear, and we can try and help them with new clothing such as warm coats, jammies and underwear, things like that for Christmas.
"We will try to help as many as we can. It’s like a Santa postbox but not for toys.”
Having the event over two days will allow parents and adults to attend either with or without children.
Poundland in Wishaw have again been very generous, by donating stocking fillers to Charity@Home.
As well as stalls selling clothes and bags there will also be home baking, toys, bric-a-brac, a tombola and raffles, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa’s Grotto.
The fundraiser will take place on Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28, from 10am to 4pm. Everyone is welcome.
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