A Bristol mum who has endured a hugely difficult 2019 burst into tears when she was gifted festive hampers full of tasty meals.
Jennifer Hobbs, 36, was forced to juggle a series of family challenges over the last 12 months.
But the Shirehampton resident enjoyed a moment of joy yesterday (December 23) as she was given surprise treats by Bristol Live, thanks to the generosity of Marks & Spencer.
The hampers contained a range of festive fare, such as pigs-in-blankets and mince pies, as well as other items including a joint of Aberdeen Angus beef and cans of tuna.
Miss Hobbs and her 12-year-old son Nathan were visibly delighted with the offering, which came as a difficult year for the pair draws to a close.
In recent months, Miss Hobbs has had to combine caring for Nathan - who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - with a host of other issues.
Miss Hobbs’ teenage son Stan was recently fitted with a heart monitor and must soon undergo MRI scans.
Further deeply emotional moments have included the death of Miss Hobbs’ uncle last week, her grandmother’s dementia diagnosis, and seeing her long-lost brother struggle with his special needs.
Summing up her past four or five months, Miss Hobbs said the period had been full of “frustration and a lot of anxiety”.
“I’d been feeling unsureness in myself, feeling unsure of the decisions I make, whether I’ve done the right thing,” said Miss Hobbs.
A spokesperson for M&S said: “We are passionate about being an active part of the local community.
“We work with many charities undertaking fantastic work in our local area and colleagues love to support local causes; from donating food surplus to local organisations, to the annual M&S Volunteer Week where we transform community spaces.
“Jennifer’s story really resonated with us, we immediately wanted to help and were delighted to provide her and her son with a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings, as well as celebrating the work Action for Children does to support and protect young people.”
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