Local charity, Fair Frome, which runs the food bank, furniture bank and other projects designed to support people in the town who are in need, are stepping up their efforts in the run up to Christmas.
Bob Ashford chair of trustees said, “Whilst Christmas is a time of festivities and enjoyment, for many people in the town it will also be a time of great difficulty. The daily pressures to provide food for their families and keep a roof over their heads will be ever present, in addition to the demands and expectations raised by Christmas. Fair Frome with its staff, volunteers and supporters will be doing everything it can to help people, during this period, to have as good a time as possible.”
The charity reports, “The food bank and the charity’s volunteers have been incredibly busy in the last few weeks. In addition to the ever-rising number of parcels given out at the food bank, they have also distributed almost 200 extra grocery and Christmas bags to local schools, to give to families they have identified as being in need.
“Recent phenomenal donations of food from the local traveller community and Frome Town Rotary have greatly helped with this. Fair Frome has also partnered with Argos at Sainsbury’s toy appeal this year, for the first time. It is open until the 16th December and enables customers to donate a toy when they are making their own purchases, providing gifts for the charity to distribute.
“Fair Frome will be keeping the food bank open over the Christmas period on Christmas Eve, 28th December, New Year’s Eve all from 10-1.00pm. Our office will be closed on the 25th, 26th and 27th December and New Year’s Eve, but an emergency phoneline will be available.
“Fair Frome will again be running its “Holiday Hunger” lunches, which provide a free hot meal for families on free school meals or benefits. These are in tandem with the children’s activities run by Purple Elephant and will be on the 27th December at Trinity Hall, 28th December at the Frome Town Football Club and the 4th January at Trinity Hall, again all from 10-12.00am with the meal to follow. The Artisan pub on Christchurch Street is also very kindly providing a free Christmas meal for 35 people referred by Fair Frome.
“Fair Frome’s supporters have also been busy. The charity’s Winter Fuel campaign is continuing to attract donations. There will be a candlelit carol concert at Christ Church on the 22nd December at 5.00pm, with suggested donations of £5, proceeds going to the charity. Orchardleigh Golf Club, Frome Town Rotary and others, have recently presented very welcome cheques. The collections at the Christmas Lights Switch-on and Christmas Independent Market have been a welcome boost to funds and food donations continue to come from the regular “invisible” donors at the charity’s food collection points.”
Fair Frome coordinators Wendy Miller Williams and Lenka Grimes, who with the support of trustees and volunteers have been busy putting all this together said, “We are really pleased with the amount of support we have received from people in the town and will make sure our services, not only continue to reach those in most need, but also bring some additional support to them over the Christmas and New Year period.”
For more information call 01373 488578 or email info@fairfrome.org
