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.