Pandemic or not, we smashed our target - thanks to everyone helping.

That's another successful campaign almost completed - massive thank you to everyone who has helped whether it be via cash/food donations or helping out with the shopping.  The success of this yearly campaign would not be what it is without everyone doing their bit.

Darren and I are extremely proud of how well the campaign has gone this year, you never quite know how these things are going to go especially given what's been going on in the world over the last 18 months.  We are truly humbled by your generosity to help others and although its been said many times, its really shocking that a place such as Surrey has three foodbank outlets.  Here is a quick run down of what has happened this year and a few thank yous along the way.... 

Firstly, to my absolute surprise we made the front page of the local Woking News and Mail, not only did we reach our online target of £750, but we smashed it, raising a total online to date of £1,410.00 which is almost double what we expected to receive.

By the time you read this article which I am hoping will be the end of the week commencing 6th December 2021, but that really depends on how quick my fingers and brain work together!!!! here's hoping. 

Three van loads of food have already been delivered to Woking Foodbank which was in excess of 75 individual food parcels  which has been kindly provided by very lovely people.  Behind the scenes we also had been doing food shopping to fill the gaps of shortages required with a combined weight of 879kgs!!

We have been busy browsing through lots of different food shops to find out where we could get the best deals for our money, but without compromising on quality. 

One thing we have noticed, you actually get less shopping for your money - staggering difference!!!!

To help the campaign I have been doing weekly radio interviews with a very good friend of mine, Jon Andrews who is situated at Radio Woking working out of Winston Churchill School.  These interviews have helped to spread the word and I will be undertaking the last weekly interview this coming Wednesday and to finally close off the campaign this year, I have been invited to attend the studio for a live show on Sunday 12th December, so please do tune in if you can.

There are so many people to thank this year, but I am going to start with all the companies that have helped and you never know one of these companies may be able to help you in return so please do take a look at the individual companies and give them a shout if you need some assistance I am pretty sure they will all be willing to help out.

Returners: Saint Edward Brotherhood these guys help out every year and are so generous towards our campaign.  They are situated in Brookwood Cemetery in the most beautiful building.  If you ever get a chance to wander around Brookwood Cemetery do pop in and see them they are very welcoming and as I said the building is breath-taking. 

Returners: Breast Cancer Charity - Walk the Walk  the staff of this charity have helped out again by donating cash and food parcels.

The charity is the organiser of the iconic MoonWalk that I have been reliably informed it will be taking place next year in both London and Edinburgh, so if you fancy pounding the streets of the capitals in a decorated bra at night, you can find out more here.

Funds raised over the last year have become part of emergency grants to small cancer charities in danger of not surviving the pandemic, so that people living with cancer can continue to receive emotional and practical support during this really difficult time.

Returners: Don't Just Sit There, sell Something this is a telemarketing company, run by owner Liam Brennan.  They have 25 years in B2B appointment setting.  Established in 1992, we set out to meet the needs of the marketplace by providing a senior level telephone sales function to support and enhance field sales activity.  We do this by running a non-scripted approach and only charging for success, tailoring our telephone marketing strategies to meet the unique needs of each client; from initiating the database, identifying decision makers, generating leads and b2b appointment setting and closing.

You will find us professional, motivated, highly trained and friendly. We genuinely want your business to succeed, as we then become an integral part of your business as well as an asset to your sales activity and growth: your success is our success.

Care Fertility This Company was new to our campaign this year.  They are currently based in the old Woking Hospice building and its nice to know that they are bringing life into the world being a fertility clinic and part of Care Fertility.  This company provided a wide range of food parcels for us. 

They stated: Family is at the heart of everything we do.  This year we wanted to give something back to the community, so instead of undertaking their usual workplace "secret santa" they decided to provide food parcels to our campaign to ensure that those struggling this time of year are able to have food on the table.   

We are so grateful that they decided to come onboard with us and it has helped provide more of those essential items that are needed.

Returners - Pre-School St Saviours - these guys are great and always manage to get a lovely parcel or two for us.  I know its really difficult keep asking parents/guardians for stuff especially at this time of the year, but yet again they have taken the time to help us out.  

If you are looking for a Pre-School place for your child please do contact the Pre-School at St Saviours for placement details, they are a long established Brookwood Village Pre-School and no appointment necessary, just call in and see us!

Returners - Fulk Butchers provided a wonderful food parcel, full of amazing goodies.  If you have not ordered your Turkey for Christmas, I am pretty sure its not too late to get your order in.  There are two branches, one in Brookwood and the other in Pirbright.  Click here: Christmas opening times over the Christmas/New Year break.

CJM HR Services - new to our campaign this year and owner Julie White donated a very generous cash donation for us.  We have spent some of these money buying toiletries which the foodbank are in desperate need of.  

CJM HR Services was created 3 years ago to handle the HR needs of small businesses and individuals and improve the employer-employee relationship.  We do one off jobs, such as giving advice on a single matter or creating some HR policies. We also have several retained clients so we can be on hand as and when needed.  Since those early days we have grown,  predominantly through word of mouth and recommendations. 

Jules White, the Managing Director, says:

"At this time of year it's good to give back to the community that we are part of. I've known Trudi and Darren for a long time and am proud to be associated with this project".

Do contact Julie for all your HR needs, no matter how big or small, CJM HR Services CAN help you. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and our website (cjmhrservices.com).

Returner - Fletcher Autos (Motorcycle Specialist).  Owner Kevin Fletcher provided us with several large food parcels, stocked with all the goodies for Christmas, the extras that perhaps someone who is down on their luck cannot find the money to purchase!

Fletcher Autos have over 30 years of experience in this field, so if you have a motorcyle that needs an MOT, Servicing or Repairing, please do contact him.  Its a friendly family run business and more than happy to help out with anything motorcycle related.  You can find him on Facebook or alternatively give him a call tel : 01483-751828

Kevin states "I am more than happy to help out at this time of the year"

Returners: Beard Construction, local branch in Brookwood, Cemetery Pales got in contact with us again this year asking if they could help in anyway.  Of course I literally ripped their arms off.  They provided massive of parcels for us and I went along last week and met with their contact Sarah, its always nice to put a face to a name and collected all the boxes full of goodies.

Beard Construction employ over 300 people in various locations, but I am so pleased that they offered to help us.  

Their ambition is to make a positive impact in the communities in which they live and work, and I can honestly say that they have most certainly had a positive impact with helping us out.

Returners: Brookwood Primary School.  I went along to Brookwood Primary School last week and picked up lots of parcels.  Like St Saviours Pre-School above, it is hard keeping asking the parents especially as it was not that long ago that Harvest Festival was upon us, but despite all of that they provided lots of food parcels for us to help make up some of the 75+ that we received.

Returners: Brookwood Barber Box - you may already have seen the horse box outside the village fish and chip shop, but if not, it is our local barber Richard, so if you need a haircut just before Christmas do give him a shout, I'm pretty sure he will be able to squeeze you in tel : 07913060627.  Richard has very kindly provided a nice cash donation this year, which will be spent on essentials in the New Year...

Saturday 4th December was Brookwood Club's annual Christmas Tree light up ceremony, there was music from the Choir of Winston Churchill School, mulled wine, burgers and hotdogs which were delish...The campaign's sleigh was also present for people to drop off food parcels if they wanted to.  We also had the QR code for the fundraising page clearly displayed.  That night we took a few food parcels, but raised a further £220 to our fundraising total.  You can still donate if you would like to by clicking on the link below, there is still time or alternatively, you can scan your camera over the QR code and it will take you directly to our webpage.

I was lucky enough to be asked to switch on the club's lights this year and of course I happily agreed, I mean what could be better!!!

So how much did we raise, well so far we have provided Woking Foodbank in excess of 75+ parcels, we have delivered three van loads of food and we raised a staggering £2,220.00 which is a huge amount of money, but we are still taking collections and you can continue to donate via the JustGiving page , so please don't worry if you have missed the deadline, its only a deadline to get the bulk of the goodies in.  This money will go a long way to helping those that are in crisis.  If you know someone that needs a bit of extra help, please do point them in the direction of the foodbank as I am pretty sure they will be able to help.

We had a few bags of food and cash donations on our JustGiving page which were anonymous, so if this was you, I am sorry that I am unable to thank you personally, but a huge, massive thanks xx

So my final thanks to :  

My good friend Emma Cogger, who each year does an amazing job with the posters, I give her a brief of what I would like and she never ceases to amaze me.  Without these posters the campaign would be nothing.  They are bright, cheery, have all the details and most importantly this year they had a QR code, I mean we have all got used to using QR codes over the last 18 months, have we not!

Brookwood Post Office/Bakery - for being an amazing drop off point and a huge thanks to Penny and Shaun for letting us know when a parcel had been delivered ready for collection.

Brookwood Club for also being a drop off point, displaying the posters and allowing me to switch on the lights this year.

Jon Andrews at Radio Woking who has been promoting the event now every week with regular interviews with me since the end of October.  He is an amazing person, always willing to help out despite having a rough time himself.  Jon you are truly an inspiration for the work that you do.

All of my family and friends who have got involved with promoting the event, distributing posters, helping with the shopping, collecting parcels and other tasks where they go above and beyond.

And finally, to all of you for giving up your hard earned cash for our campaign.  Without you all this campaign would be nothing, so if you do nothing else today, give yourself a pat on the back because you are all true heroes in our eyes.

There is nothing else to say, and yes, I am sure there are some of you that are thinking "thank goodness for that", but to wish you all a safe Christmas and to

With all our love until next year!!!! 

Darren & Trudi 💖💖💖💖💖