Thank you & Merry Christmas xx

On behalf of Woking Foodbank I would personally like to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you that have either taken the time to read my blogs (you can read them all again here, just keep scrolling down the page), I can't actually believe how many I have done!!! listened to my radio interviews with Jon Andrews at Radio Woking, carried food parcels, pulled the sleigh, donated cash or food parcels and generally having the thought of sharing your Christmas with someone else this year.  

Your generosity has been absolutely overwhelming and it has showed yet again this year by the Foodbank closing its doors for donations.  It just goes to prove that we can achieve great things when we work together and as a village we most certainly pull together when it is needed most.  

This year the campaign has been a massive team effort, I am not really sure if this was due to my unexpected stay in hospital right in the middle of the campaign (it couldn't have happened at a worse time, but sometimes you actually have to put your own health first) anyways, I couldn't have done it without all your help and for that I am truly grateful.

I am pleased to say that although the campaign officially finished on the 8th December with the closing night at Brookwood Club, I am still receiving cash donations and of course I am more than happy to collect any food parcels that you would like to donate, so if you have a food cupboard full of goodies following Christmas and you have desires of starting a DIET, yes a diet, drop me an email at trudifletcher@rocketmail.com and I will be more than happy to come and take away all of those temptations to help you with your New Year's Resolution.

Talking of donations, I had lots of food parcels delivered without name tags, so if you have not yet received a card from me, please do let me know because one of those parcels could have been yours and I do believe in thanking people.

My  Last radio interview can be heard by clicking here with the fabulous Jon Andrews of Radio Woking. It's always such great fun doing the radio interviews I really enjoy them despite being nervous and worried that I am either gunna miss something or say something that perhaps I shouldn't, but I don't think I have fluffed any up yet.  Scroll to Shawn Mendes - lost in Japan. I am just after that!!!

Just so you know the total amount of cash that we managed to raise was a staggering £1,243.00 and we had in excess of 100 food parcels, I actually lost count of the food parcels especially on the closing night and the amount of parcels everyone brought down to the Club to fill up the sleigh, which of course was full several times over...Most of the cash has already been spent on supplies, but we still have £737 to spend in the New Year which will help replenish stock, so I will post another update in the New Year for you all once the foodbank let me know what they require.

Food parcel from Fulk Butchers 

So here are a few piccies of the local companies that have donated to refresh your memories.

Goodies donated by Brookwood Pre-School

East West - Indian Restaurant
£20 voucher which was sold within
seconds of me putting it online

Carrier bags kindly donated
by Julie of Co-Op, St Johns 

 Sleigh kindly donated by
Homebase - Brookwood

Fletcher Autos
Motorcycle repairs - cash injection 

Our local painter/decorator - cash injection

Brookwood Club, one of my drop off points. Brookwood Club also provided the funds raised from the sale of mulled wine, hot dogs and raffle on the closing night of the event, they also provided a cash injection.

Walk the Walk, breast cancer charity
provided a lovely food parcel 

Jon Andrews, provided weekly
air space for me to promote
the campaign

Mr Kringle, the very kind gentleman
who provided a large donation, but wished
to remain anonymous!!

Brookwood Post Office/Bakers Dozen,

one of the drop off points for food parcels!  Shaun Roker, owner

also loaned us his van to get the first distribution of the food parcels to

the Foodbank and very kindly donated 

the rolls at the Brookwood Club event.

There were of course more, including the help from Linda Moss at CSG International - Woking, Brookwood Pet Care Services, Surrey Wood Floors and Doors - Brookwood, this week, we have been busy picking up food parcels and cash donations and even yesterday we picked up a food parcel so you can see that they are still rolling in which is absolutely fantastic.

And to finally finish the campaign this year we were on the front page (left, is me, just in case you didn't know by now and right is Alison Buckland from the Woking Foodbank), yes I know, the front page of the Woking News and Mail, click here to see more News and Mail article .

I have to say I have had an absolute blast with this year's campaign, despite the emotions attached to the campaign its great fun. I have particularly enjoyed picking up food parcels from other villagers and getting to know them a bit more and their reasons behind giving, they are all different.

Don't forget the foodbank is open on Christmas Day, so if you feel you are unable to cope on your own give them a shout, get registered and you could be enjoying a Christmas meal. music and games with like minded people.  See poster below for more details.

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So once again, massive thanks to you all for getting involved, catch up with you all in the New Year, but in the meantime hope you all have an absolutely fabulous Christmas and wishing you all a healthy 2019.

Merry Christmas you fab-u-lous lot.....its a 10 from me all day long....

As we draw to a close for this year, can I say a massive THANK YOU to each and everyone of you that have been involved in my mad brain ideas, to everyone that has donated, your contributions will help over this special time of year, but more importantly will help the foodbank get through to at least the  New Year, you should be really proud if you have donated a food parcel/cash or just been involved.  This year the campaign has been a massive success, despite the fact that I have been in hospital, but everyone has rallied round and pulled out all the stops, its been a great team effort this year.

We have had a staggering 90 odd parcels and the cash donations have doubled since last year.  Our contributions have also enabled the Foodbank to close its doors for donations, yes can you believe that we have helped to fill it up.  

Talking of donations, I popped along to Brookwood Pre-School during the week who contacted me to say that they had two parcels for collection, now you may remember from earlier posts that I visited them last year, but had to take the wheelbarrow, well not this year, oh no.......the sleigh got another outing and I can honestly say it was so easy; 1 because my sister, Lisa had to pull it along and 2 no more lifting.  Success so again, massive thanks to Roger at Homebase, Brookwood for the trolley and massive thanks to Brookwood Pre-School, the children and parents for helping out yet again this year.

I know the pre-school currently have vacancies, so look them up if they can assist with child care needs they are a lovely and friendly bunch.

Also massive thanks to our local East West Indian Restaurant, in Connaught Road Brookwood - Miah and Imtiaz very kindly donated a £20 gift voucher which I put up for sale and it was literally sold in seconds of me putting it online so that tells you just how good the food is.  It's a lovely friendly restaurant and I can highly recommend it especially as it's my local.  They are always willing to help out in the community so if you haven't booked your Christmas party yet give them a shout I am sure they will fit you in some where or some how tel : 01483-472610, drop them an email : eastwestbrookwood@gmail.com or alternatively book through their website above.

Last week's Radio interview with Jon Andrews covered a lot, so if you were unable to tune in (shame on you), but luckily enough you can catch up here by clicking on the link: Radio Woking - scroll to 16mins in - just after Wham!!!

Its funny how you get talking to someone about one thing and literally end up talking about something else and that's exactly what happened with Linda Moss (you may remember Linda from a previous blog she very kindly stood in for me with the Radio Woking interview when I was unwell).

Linda  was invited by Jan - fundraising manager for Walk the Walk charity to pop along to their offices in Woking to see the new chemo bus and whilst Linda was there that got onto the conversation of volunteer work as I believe Linda may be volunteering for them in the future and Linda happened to mention the foodbank campaign which of course she very kindly gets involved with.  Well one thing led to another and before we knew it Jan had emailed the office to see whether the staff would like to get involved with regard to donating some items of non perishable food and to my surprise they delivered a very large box full of goodies.  Its fantastic that how something so simple like a 2 minute conversation can change everything and the fact that these guys work for a charity they are still prepared to help another charity in the community.

This WalktheWalk charity has been running for 22 years and for those of you that don't know its a breast cancer charity (you know the one where you walk for charity at night with just ya bra on, yes that's right a brightly coloured bra as pictured above......their next marathon or half marathon is on 11/12th May next year and guess what you can sign up now, so if you think this is something that you may be interested in, click on the link and get  Signed up ... but remember it's not just for women, so come on you guys why don't you take up the challenge after all its not just women that get breast cancer is it????

Having spoken to Jan on the telephone - she told me "the food parcel was very much staff led and they love being part of the community" - I personally think that its really fantastic that one charity can actually help out another.

We have now made a second distribution to the Woking Foodbank which is absolutely fantastic so that means that lots of people who are struggling are going to get fed this Christmas and that's all thanks to you guys.

oooo gosh I almost forgot, an update on the fuzzy felt tree, well you can see for yourselves there are now lots of baubles on the tree and these are all local companies that have donated - look how much it has grown.  I am gunna leave it up over the Christmas period, in Brookwood Club ya never know someone else may want a bauble....they currently include:

East West Indian Restaurant as mentioned above
Brookwood Club
Fletcher Autos - motorcyle repairs, Woking
Surrey Wood Floors and Doors
Brookwood Pre-School
Decor-Mate Painting and Decorating - Brookwood
WalktheWalk who have just joined as above
PA Carpentry - Phil Bayliss (Brookwood) who very kindly created our gorgeous sleigh
CSG International - (Sheerwater) Linda Moss
Don't Just Sit There Sell Something (Guildford) - Liam Brennan
Co-Op in St Johns
Homebase in Brookwood
Tudor News - Brookwood
Brookwood Food & Wine
Brookwood Post Office, Bakers Dozen
Pirbright Football Club

Remember there are lots of eyes looking at your bauble we still have room for more, so if you are interested drop me an email trudifletcher@rocketmail.com and it can be organised in a jiffy!!!!!

Saturday night saw the Brookwood Club christmas tree light up event and I have to say it was an absolute success despite the terrible weather.  Alison Buckland attended from Woking Foodbank to turn on the lights and Anthony Gurr from The Woking News and Mail also attended to get some snaps.  All proceeds from the sale of hotdogs and mulled wine will be donated to the foodbank so will let you know in due course how much we raised, but in the meantime you can feast your eyes on some snaps from Saturday night.

Courtesy of Anthony Gurr

courtesy of Anthony Gurr

The sleigh was also in attendance Saturday night and do you know we probably emptied it at least four times thanks to the generosity of the locals....people struggling in Woking are going to eat a little better this year with the help of Brookwood Village.

Next week's blog will be the last for this year and I will update you all on how well we did once having updated my audit trail.  In the meantime again, many thanks to you all.

Giving away your bestest toy!!!

This is my penultimate blog so hopefully you will have by now learn't lots from this Christmas Woking Foodbank campaign, from the struggle all year round to feed the vulnerable to the free Christmas day celebrations as mentioned below.

Whilst recouping from my operation at home, I had a visit from the lovely little Summer.  Summer told me that she is not 6 years old, but in fact 6 & 3/4 years old, she was most adamant about that!!!! 

Summer is pictured here with some of her favourite cuddly toys and you may wonder why?  Well because she has lovingly given them all up and in her words "to give to children that don't have any toys"  Summer even gave up her most favourite toy and it just so happens to be a Reindeer...called Gilly.  Summer said "I have decided to give up Gilly because I would give Gilly to my best friend, but my best friend has toys so I am going to let someone else have my best toy and I am really, really, really, really happy because the other girl will be happy, excited and surprised, Summer also told me that hopefully this will mean that she wont be put on the "naughty list this year".....What an absolutely amazing thing to do, would you give up your best toy????? and I think we can all agree that yes Summer will be exempt from the naughty list this year!  These toys have already been taken to The Foodbank and they will be given to The Jigsaw Project which is located on the ground floor of The Foodbank.

We had a very generous donation last week from Surrey Floors & Doors, Brookwood.  I popped into the shop a couple of weeks ago to discuss the campaign with one of the co-owners Ed.  Ed told me that he knew the Foodbank existed as he had been to his kiddies school a few weeks previous and indeed had been told that all the food from the harvest festival would be going to the Woking Foodbank.  Ed tells me that Emma is the shop manageress and is the brains behind the organisation and also a local Brookwood resident!

It's actually really hard work asking for charitable donations as I get everyone has their own charities they give to or indeed have money commitments especially this time of the year. I always feel like the characters from The Muppets Christmas Carol (by the way this the bestest film ever in the whole wide world) asking Scrooge for the charitable donation, and having to accept that rejection, but I have to say Ed completely blew my mind, I was actually not prepared for his response at all and he completely took the wind out of my sails.  

Ed is a joint owner with Liam & Victor and they have had a shop in Brookwood for 5 years now, Ed tells me that it is not a family business, but it is run like a family business.  Surrey Floors and Doors specialise in high quality wood flooring and restorations and although they have a lot of their business in the village they also undertake high end bespoke work as they have plenty of talented craftsmen to undertake the work.  I personally love the fact that its not a family business, but run as such.  Many many thanks Surrey Floors and Doors for your donation this will help us buy those essential items that are required.

Now talking of which we had actually decided to make an interim distribution this year, so all was going to plan, until we suddenly realised that we didn't have a van this year to get it all there.  Couple of text messages later and Shaun Roker from Brookwood Post Office/Bakers Dozen very kindly offered his van - saved by the van and the baker....phew....

By making this interim distribution of food parcels to the foodbank, will enable The Salvation Army to get involved.  The Salvation Army in Goldsworth Park is also a drop off point for food parcels, so if you cant get to any of my drop off points, being Brookwood Club or Brookwood Post Office/Bakers Dozen during opening hours,  I am sure that they will be more than happy to help out.  The Salvation Army will deliver food parcels to vulnerable families and by us making the interim distribution now means that those people will get the food before Christmas which is absolutely wonderful.  As you can see its a large haul already, but we still need more, so keep those parcels coming folks, the deadline has been extended until 8th December; firstly because I have not been able to give it my full attention due to my recent operation and; secondly because a lot of people have asked me to wait until they have been paid at the end of this month, so who am I to argue with that.  

I have two lists from the foodbank for supplies needed and my little elves were round Thursday night sorting out all the bags into the same products and can you believe out of all the 40 odd bags we only had 1 bottle of Mayonnaise, yes just 1 bottle, that was such a surprise.  So my mum has been shopping and now we have a bag full of mayonnaise.  That's the good thing of sorting the bags you get some idea of what you are short on.  Now if you are interested, we are currently short on toilet rolls, tea/coffee and crisps, so if you are thinking of doing a food parcel and needed some ideas of what to put in it then these items would be fab, but here's the list just in case you are unsure of what else is needed. 

Don't forget next Saturday 8th December is Christmas tree light-up in the village, please do come along and support the event.  There will be hot-dogs, mulled wine and a live band to see you through the evening. Its an open event so all are welcome, it starts at 6pm so bring the family and soak up the atmosphere.  

Alison Buckland from The Foodbank will officially be turning on the lights so she can answer any questions you may have and we are hopeful that Woking News and Mail will also attend to cover the event.  The trolley will be in attendance so if you could bring an item of non-perishable food to help us fill up the trolley that would be amazing.

I had a very generous donation of three food parcels dropped off at Brookwood Club this week, unfortunately the person did not leave a name or contact details and was not recognised by the staff at The Club, if it was you, please do get in touch so that I can thank you personally.

This week's Radio Woking interview with Jon Andrew's from Radio Woking, which is located at Winston Churchill School can be heard here MixCloud - radio interview  - scroll to 24mins just after the Christmas tune - I believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake.  If you haven't learnt anything new about the Foodbank yet then listen on in you are bound to with this interview....Also remembering Liam Brennan referring to me as an amazing beacon of light for the local community....ha ha ha ha glad that someone thinks I shine brightly.

So Christmas day is fast approaching and Woking Foodbank are highlighting the Christmas Day celebrations which will be held at The Lighthouse again this year. If you, or anyone you know will be on their own on Christmas Day, please sign up. All free to join.  To book your place please drop an email to info@lighthousewoking.org the event starts at 9.30am and finishes at 3pm, don't be a stranger.

In the meantime my Christmas foodbank campaign will continue to run until the evening of Saturday 8th December 2018.

My drop off points are :

Brookwood Club 4.30pm-11pm &
Brookwood Post Office/Bakers Dozen 8am til 5.30pm; or 
if you would like me to collect a parcel my email address is :

trudifletcher@rocketmail.com