In and around Haverhill, local families are worrying about Christmas.
It should be a time for people to come together with their loved ones and make memories. Instead, many local families are consumed with worry about how they will afford to heat their homes, or buy enough food to feed every mouth, every day.
We just want to enable families to enjoy Christmas, and it doesn't take much; let’s give them some hot meals to enjoy together in a warm home, and ensure they are able to have a few basic treats for themselves and their children. Can you imagine the overwhelming relief this would bring to a family that has had a desperately tough year?
This simple kindness has the power to transform a Christmas, and change lives, as you’ll see from Gemma’s story below.
Together, we can make it a Christmas worth remembering, for all the right reasons.
“For the first time in years I’m looking forward to Christmas”
Gemma* is a single mum to four wonderful boys and grandma to her four-month-old grandson.
'Christmas is my favourite time of the year but last Christmas we didn’t have any money and I couldn’t cope. It was horrible. I was struggling to put three meals on the table.
'I was in a controlling marriage, so I had to fight for everything for my family. It got so bad I started to feel like I didn’t want to live anymore, I had really hit rock bottom.
'But this year I am super excited for Christmas. Honestly, that is because knowing I don’t have to go hungry to feed my son because REACH is there, so we can actually have a meal together this Christmas is all down to REACH and its sponsors.
'What REACH does is amazing. A big thank you to everyone who donates. When you give a donation, you might not see the difference it makes. But I know that it has been life saving for me and many other people like me. It is so appreciated, even though they may not see it because I don’t think they realise how many lives they actually help and potentially save.
'Your donation to REACH's Christmas Appeal could help other local people like me facing hardship keep their home warm enough to enjoy Christmastime with their loved ones.'
The value of your gift will be beyond whatever you give; it’s your kindness that will be invaluable to a family in need this Christmas, like Gemma's.
Will you help make Christmas memorable, for all the right reasons?
No matter how much you give, your kindness will be felt by real people across our local community.
A £5 donation could fuel a family’s oven, giving them hot dinners for a whole week.
£25 can heat a family’s home for a week.
£75 could provide a family with a week of food so they don’t go hungry.
Living through Christmas in hardship is impossible to forget, but an act of kindness and compassion will be treasured forever by families in urgent need.
Your donation could be DOUBLED!
We are extremely thankful that one of our supporters is providing the funds to match every donation up to their limit of £10,000. That means that every £1 you donate during the first two weeks of our Appeal could be doubled!
Our matched giving Christmas opportunity expires on 10th December.
All donations received before this deadline will be doubled until the pot is empty, so if you are intending to give, please don’t miss the opportunity to double the impact of your gift.
Making Christmas Memories
For more information on how we're empowering people to create moments that are meaningful for them, and promote the true heart of Christmas throughout the winter period, please visit our
'Making Christmas Memories' page.
* Name and identifying details changed for the client’s protection
**Our supporter has asked to be anonymous