A Fife charity say they’ve been “overwhelmed” by the generosity of the public following their annual Christmas appeal.
Fife Gingerbread’s annual Heat and Eat appeal provides families with essential food items, money to help cover utility bills as well as gifts for children.
With more donations from the community and increasing numbers of families needing help, Linsey Proctor from the charity says it’s been one of their busiest years yet.
She told STV News: “We’re getting families from all different types of backgrounds from working parents to lone parents to people who have just found themselves in difficulty this year with rising costs.
“We have people whose wages aren’t rising in conjunction with rising food and housing and families who are maybe finding it difficult to pay for the school day.
“A combination of all those things can make it difficult for people who work or who are stay at home mums from a variety of different backgrounds.
STV News“It’s quite concerning now it seems poverty is tipping into every area of family life.
“We’re all just a pay check away or missing a rent payment away from having to leave our homes or having to look for help externally.”
This year 157 families will be supported by the charity, with presents and food parcels for Christmas Day and beyond ensuring 333 children have something to open and eat during the holidays.
The impact of spreading a little festive cheer isn’t lost of staff and volunteers like Kara MacKenzie.
She said: “It’s been a bit overwhelming, but it’s been phenomenal.
“It’s been a bit overwhelming trying to get everything together and not really realising how many parents needed support and realising there’s a lot of kids out there and families.”
Stacey Donaldson joined Fife Gingerbread three months ago. This is her first Christmas appeal.
“I think we could all find ourselves in a situation where we find Christmas impossible to afford,” she said.
“It’s so important places like us exist that can bring all of these toys and gifts together and distribute it to the families most in need.”
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