Calderdale folk with hearts of gold spread joy and love at Christmas

The Courier has been inundated with calls from people who are doing amazing things for charity over the festive season.

The Yorkshire Children’s Trust, based at Holmfield Mills, received a staggering 2,000 gifts which were donated to less fortunate children on Wednesday.

Manager Simon Widdop said: “We want to make sure we help as many local families as possible.

“We understand that many families with sick or disabled children or those on benefits may not be able to afford Christmas so we want to help to make sure no children wake up this Christmas without a present.”

And the ladies of Sowood Women’s Institute, who meet at Sowood Community Centre, organised an appeal for children who will be spending Christmas in Calderdale Women’s Refuge.

Secretary Philippa Atkin said: “One of our most rewarding achievements last year was to organise a last minute appeal to provide gifts and treats for the children spending Christmas in Calderdale Women’s Refuge. The community’s response was astounding and their generosity meant that those children had some of the normality that we all take for granted with lovely new presents to open on Christmas morning.

“The appeal was so successful that every child entering the refuge in the last year was able to receive a brand new toy to call their own.

“The refuge staff have told us that this made an enormous impact, so we decided to organise the appeal again this year.”

The branch opened the doors of the community centre on Tuesday for people to drop off donations and it was soon bursting with gifts from people wanting to make a difference.

Philippa described the outpouring of generosity as “outstanding”.

She said: “We had an amazing and inspiring day. The generosity was simply overwhelming and we delivered sack fulls of gifts to the refuge where they were received with huge gratitude.”