Supporting our local community
The Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. John Finlay had been considering how Essex Mark could do something different to help those less fortunate than ourselves. He became aware of the current Salvation Army “Be a Star” appeal to provide help to families with children who are struggling with life and have little chance to afford Christmas gifts for their children.
After putting his proposal to the trustees of our Benevolent fund, and receiving approval, it was decided that Essex Mark would help the appeal and donate £1000 worth of gifts this year.
As a result, armed with two-for-one tokens and every possible in-store promotion known to man, the Prov.G.M.’s wife Sharon, ventured to local a superstore and secured a huge array of sparkling Christmas presents comprising of toys, selection boxes, clothing, books, toiletries, and school supplies to suit all ages of children. Apparently, it was almost impossible to close the tailgate on Sharon’s estate car on either of the two runs it took to complete the purchase of all the presents.
Several evenings were then spent sorting and packing the gifts into categories so that each packed box was specified for boy or girl aged as appropriate. The gifts are suitable for new-born to teenagers. The Salvation Army had provided a list of appropriate gifts using their vast experience of what would best help families, of course with some latitude to allow for some Christmas time magic when unwrapping a present to discover a much-coveted toy or game.
At the end of November John and Sharon accompanied by Geoff Newman Asst.Prov.G.M. Peter Maloney, Provincial Grand Charity Steward and our own Santa (W.Bro Terry Nixon) transported some 15 large boxes to the Chelmsford Salvation Army Centre to hand the gifts to Commanding Officers, Majors Ian & Tracey Mountford, and their team for wrapping and distribution to families. Last year the Salvation Army distributed 76,000 gifts all provided by generous donators to families in need.
The Salvation Army team were delighted with the donation and expressed their gratitude to Essex Mark, assuring John that the gifts would all be given to children of families in Essex who wouldn’t otherwise have been so lucky. Wouldn’t it be nice to be a fly on the wall at some of the homes on Christmas morning to see the joy an unexpected gift will bring.
After putting his proposal to the trustees of our Benevolent fund, and receiving approval, it was decided that Essex Mark would help the appeal and donate £1000 worth of gifts this year.
As a result, armed with two-for-one tokens and every possible in-store promotion known to man, the Prov.G.M.’s wife Sharon, ventured to local a superstore and secured a huge array of sparkling Christmas presents comprising of toys, selection boxes, clothing, books, toiletries, and school supplies to suit all ages of children. Apparently, it was almost impossible to close the tailgate on Sharon’s estate car on either of the two runs it took to complete the purchase of all the presents.
Several evenings were then spent sorting and packing the gifts into categories so that each packed box was specified for boy or girl aged as appropriate. The gifts are suitable for new-born to teenagers. The Salvation Army had provided a list of appropriate gifts using their vast experience of what would best help families, of course with some latitude to allow for some Christmas time magic when unwrapping a present to discover a much-coveted toy or game.
At the end of November John and Sharon accompanied by Geoff Newman Asst.Prov.G.M. Peter Maloney, Provincial Grand Charity Steward and our own Santa (W.Bro Terry Nixon) transported some 15 large boxes to the Chelmsford Salvation Army Centre to hand the gifts to Commanding Officers, Majors Ian & Tracey Mountford, and their team for wrapping and distribution to families. Last year the Salvation Army distributed 76,000 gifts all provided by generous donators to families in need.
The Salvation Army team were delighted with the donation and expressed their gratitude to Essex Mark, assuring John that the gifts would all be given to children of families in Essex who wouldn’t otherwise have been so lucky. Wouldn’t it be nice to be a fly on the wall at some of the homes on Christmas morning to see the joy an unexpected gift will bring.
