Supermarket’s festive boost for Bury St Edmunds charities

Three vital Bury St Edmunds charities have received hundreds of pounds worth of items for the festive season from Waitrose.

Gatehouse, The Crack On Foundation and the town’s Women’s Refuge were each awarded about £350 worth of goods as part of the supermarket’s Community Matters - Christmas Isolation Campaign.

Gatehouse will use the items towards its Christmas Lunch.

Thanking Waitrose for its continued suppport, chief executive Amanda Bloomfield said: “The lunch is a completely free event for anybody who is alone on December 25. Without the support of local businesses and volunteers this event which feeds almost 100 people each year would not be able to go ahead.”

To book a place for the lunch, call her on 01284 754967 and the charity is looking for volunteer drivers.

Crack On’s donations will go towards its Christmas lunch for five families chosen by social services.

CEO Mark Byford said: “The Christmas dinner wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for the generosity of people like Waitrose.”

They are appealing for wrapped presents for the families and items for the charity’s Christmas hampers. It is also looking for bottles of drink for its Christmas tombola. Items can be brought to the charity’s shop, in Brentgovel Street.

The Women’s Refuge will use the items for its Christmas meals and bosses thanked Waitrose.

Groups who want to benefit from November’s Community Matters scheme, can apply in store. The deadline is November 27.