Over Christmas 1984, charity supergroup Band Aid sang Feed the World – 38 years later a Keswick woman hopes to feed the town.
Laura Gaskell, 34, has started a Christmas food bank for Keswick and says donations have been so generous that she needs more people to give them to.
She is now appealing for people to come forward and suggest the names of people in Keswick and the surrounding area who would benefit from a Christmas food parcel.
The kind-hearted mum-of-three, who is in need of a kidney transplant, was undergoing her three weekly sessions of dialysis when she read about the struggles people are facing because of the cost-of-living crisis.
“It set me thinking of how much help there is in Keswick for people who are struggling as it doesn’t have its own food bank, the nearest one is in Cockermouth,” she explained.
Laura got the word out on social media and said the response so far had been “really good” with six food parcels having already been dispatched and another four people identified as worthy recipients — but she needs more.
Among the items people have donated are biscuits and chocolate selection boxes to give the parcels a festive twist.
Local businesses too have agreed to act as a drop-off point for food. These include Woodstone Pizza and Flame Grill Restaurant on St John’s Street on Thursdays and Sundays (10am-4pm), and Lakes Cottage Holidays on Station Street. Laura has also had deliveries made to her home at 34 Netherfield.
This week, she has made contact with local Keswick churches St John’s and Crosthwaite to spread the donations, and the Rawnsley Parent and Toddler Group at Kings Church.
Her Facebook page, Keswick Christmas Food Bank, also has nearly 150 members, with contributors describing the town as “full of amazing, lovely, caring people”.
Donations have even included a lovely white Christmas tree. The last date for donations is Sunday, December 11.
Steve Harwood, mayor of Keswick, praised Laura. Cllr Harwood said: “I am deeply heartened by the initiative shown for families in Keswick who are finding it hard to cope in these difficult times. It is even more inspiring given Laura’s own medical condition that she can think of the needs of others.
“I understand that the response by way of donations has exceeded expectations with local businesses willing to help as drop-off points for food, but I am sure more donations will be welcome as Christmas approaches. This is testament to the generosity of the people of Keswick.
“On behalf of the town I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the effort she is making for the benefit of others.”
Anyone wanting to suggest a recipient for a food parcel can contact Laura on 07368 289222.
