All Wrapped Up, Riverside Church, Winter Wonderland

This year,  Whitstable,  Herne Bay, Canterbury Lions joined the Winter Wonderland project, one of the compassion projects run at Riverside Church for the local community of Whitstable and Herne Bay.  

Each Christmas for the last 2 years, all the local schools and partner organisations in Whitstable and Herne Bay have identified those families facing challenges meaning that they are unlikely to be able to afford many, if any, Christmas presents for their children and/or have a Christmas dinner together.  

Last year over 260 local families were referred, visiting the Winter Wonderland over a 2-day period. They could choose gifts of stocking fillers, chocolate selection boxes, books, and a fleece blanket for their children, as well as a bag of Christmas food treats. 570 children were provided with gifts and the majority of the families also received, a few days later, an electronic voucher for the supermarket of their choice to buy the food for their Christmas dinner.  

This year the families visited Riverside for the All Wrapped Up event on the 10th and 11th December and the need was even greater. Whitstable, Herne Bay , Canterbury Lions contributed by donating £1,000 for a selection box for every child.