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GatewayXmasHampersKids750
Norwich church give hampers to NHS and families 

Gateway Vineyard church in Norwich and Beccles has teamed up with a number of local agencies to make sure almost 200 hampers packed with food and toys find their way to vulnerable families and deserving NHS workers this Christmas.

The team at Gateway in both Norwich and Beccles have partnered with Leeway, Compass Outreach, the Benjamin Foundation, and English+ as well as its own Growkids and Kids Matter projects in its Light Up Christmas initiative.
 
Around 75 hamper bags will also be going to deserving NHS workers at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and the Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust .
 
Assistant pastor at Gateway, and project co-ordinator, Marc Lillystone, said: “Church members and their family and friends have generously donated huge amounts of Christmas food treats and new and second-hand toys such as  bikes, scooters, play kitchens, Lego, games, puzzles and craft items. We are so grateful for all of their support.
 
“The hamper gifts for local NHS staff are an extension of previous acts of kindness we’ve done to thank those working in these vital roles. We wanted to send in a token of our appreciation knowing the challenges staff are facing this winter and to let them know that although the public clapping has stopped, we haven’t forgotten them and we really appreciate all they are doing to care for people in need at this time,” said Marc. 
 
The Gateway project is also part of the #lovechristmas campaign which has brought together hundreds of churches across the UK to provide up to one million Christmas hampers to those in need. In Norwich, St Thomas Norwich and Soul Church are also taking part.
 
The #lovechristmas project provided some help and funding to enable the Gateway project to reach both NHS workers and vulnerable families.
 
www.loveyourneighbour.uk/lovechristmas 
 
Pictured above are some young helpers from Gateway Vineyard helping to pack hundreds of Christmas hampers, from the left, Esme, Joel and Hope Lillystone.
 

Keith Morris, 22/12/2020

Published: 22/12/2020
Keith Morris

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