A CHARITY based in Stanhope that helps families in need at Christmas needed helped itself this weekend.
123 Help 4 Family’s, founded and run by Shaun Emerson, works hard all year round to raise the money to help local families. In the run up to the big day, it is all hands on deck with volunteers shopping for and filling innumerable bags with everything a family would need for Christmas Day.
This includes the turkey and trimmings, vegetable and desserts as well as gifts for everyone, biscuits, chocolates – everything. The charity is hugely helped every year by Stanhope Show Committee who allow the use of the big shed to store the thousands of items that fill the hundreds of bags. Stanhope Travel based in the town is also a huge supporter too.
When the scores of bags were all packed and with 823 being supplied this year – a record – Shaun, his Godmother and co-founder of the charity, Linda Mears, discovered that the van they use for many of the deliveries had a problem with the brakes.
Enter GW Holmes and Son, a motor garage and petrol station near Etherley, Bishop Auckland, When Mr Holmes heard about the difficulty, he offered Shaun the loan of a large van for free.
Shaun, said, “We were in a quandary. We needed to get the bags out, especially with so many to deliver this year. So we are very grateful to Mr Holmes and the van was just perfect.
“We can’t thank them enough.”
The families that the charity helps also runs a charity shop in Hope Street, Crook, which is where much of the money spent at Christmas is earned. There is, however, a lot of money donated too by Dalefolk with £20 enough to feed a family of four for Christmas.
These families are not necessarily receiving benefits. They are families desperate for help – those who have lost a parent, those who live with a serious illness and other problems that deprive them of enough money to enjoy Christmas.
Shaun took the opportunity to thank not only every one of the kind people who donate but also to Stanhope Show Committee and Stanhope Travel for their amazing help and support year-on-year. This year, the Auckland Project has also come on board, not only offering families in need free tickets to Aglow but also donating items to the appeal. Mrs Jane Ruffer who heads the Auckland Project was interested to learn more about 123 Help4Family’s.
“She was very nice,” said Shaun. “We sat down with her and told her all about what we do. She was very interested.”
Other businesses who aid the charity include Lost Cause Barbers, Bishop Auckland, Helen’s Hairdressers in Stanhope, Deerness Fencing too, which gave a huge donation as well as practical help, Then there is a company called Giant run by a lady who has given enormous help for the last few years but who prefers to remain anonymous. The Cross Keys at Eastgate and the Pack Horse in Stanhope are another two local businesses that supports Shaun, Linda and their team of volunteers.
Shaun said, “These companies have helped us out time and again, not only with donations of money but other help. It does take many thousands of pounds to supply everyone in need that we are aware in the locality and these people and businesses help us so much but there is also practical help too – and again they come up trumps.
“We couldn’t help as many people as we do without them. Many, many people play a part and we are extremely grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
This year has proved especially difficult for the 123 Help 4Family’s team of volunteers with some seasonal viruses, the huge increase in families needing help and then the problem with the van.
Shaun said, after another exhausting day of packing and delivering, “This has been the hardest year physically, mentally, financially, and also logistically but however hard it is, we must keep going because these families deserve it.”
Established in 1947, G W Holmes & Son has been in the family for three generations, leading the way in supplying premium quality Commercials vehicles for nearly 70 years. Their extensive industry experience means that you can be assured that they select only the best used commercials for their showroom. Each vehicle is subject to rigorous checks before we even approve it for sale. We back this up by providing a warranty for every vehicle we sell.
The company also hires vans and commercial vehicles as well as the petrol station that is renowned for its low-priced fuel.
GW Holmes can be contacted on 01388 603417. Postcode: DL14 0JU.
Christmas is the time for helping each other and no-one does it better than 123 Help 4 Family’s – even Buddy the Elf got involved this year and there’s no better recommendation than that!
Shaun Emerson is on Facebook as is 123Help4Family’s.
