By Freddie Holmes
Homelessness and domestic abuse charity Llamau has been given a cheque for £8,097.61 by last year’s Caerphilly Major Vera Jenkins.
The money was raised as part of Mrs Jenkins’ Mayor’s appeal.
Every year the charity, which merged with Caerphilly Women’s Aid in 2010, launches its ‘Get Stocking’ appeal in time for Christmas which aims to ensure that everyone they work with gets a small gift at Christmas. This could include shower gel and hair styling products through to socks, slippers and photo frames.
Frances Beecher, chief executive at the charity, said: “Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time for the people that we work with. Many of them will want to be with their families but for some it just isn’t possible.
“We don’t get funding for this and so a generous donation such as Vera’s will be a huge contribution to the wellbeing of the most vulnerable in Caerphilly Borough this Christmas.
“Many will wish they had a family they could be with. Either way, we have a large number of young people and women with children living in our projects during the festive period and we work hard to ensure that each of them receives a small gift every Christmas.
“We worked very closely with Vera during her year in office and were touched by her enthusiasm for fundraising, for helping us spread our message and most importantly, her commitment to change the lives of those most in need in Caerphilly.”
Ms Beecher added: Without the support of the public, Llamau could not afford this small kindness for those who use and need our services. Every year, without fail, the people of Caerphilly have generously supported our Christmas appeal, either by purchasing gifts and dropping them off at our various office locations or sending cash donations from their own fundraising activities.
“This generosity is on top of the wonderful support we receive from individuals and businesses across Caerphilly right the way through the year and for which we are extremely grateful.”
Last year the charity received a cheque for over one thousand pounds from a Blackwood firm during the Christmas period, which went towards buying Christmas presents for the young people, women and children supported by the organisation across Caerphilly County Borough
Congratulations Vera on a fantastic effor for Llamau. I am sure that many young people will benefit from your fundraising efforts.