Hebburn Helps launches Easter appeal as number of children in need reaches record high

Hebburn Helps co-founder, Angie Comeford

Hebburn Helps is appealing for kindhearted people in the community to support its Easter egg appeal to make sure less fortunate children in the area get a chocolate treat.

Supermarket shelves are already well stocked with Easter eggs and Hebburn Helps is asking the community think of others and put an extra gift in their basket for children who would otherwise miss out.

The appeal comes as the team at Hebburn Helps report a record number of children on their food bank list as the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic has left many families struggling.

Hebburn Helps co-founder, Angie Comeford dressed as the Easter Bunny, giving out Easter Eggs to the community in 2020.

Angie Comeford, co-founder of Hebburn Helps, said a small act of kindness could be priceless to those in need.

“This is something that we have done for the past five years and to be able to give out a chocolate treat for the little inside of our food parcels is priceless. A lot of our families can’t afford even a pack of biscuits so it’s just a nice treat to provide them,” she said.

“I think with the current situation it’s just so important to keep being kind to one another and help whichever way we can.”

In 2020, the community responded strongly to the appeal and Angie was able to give out the Easter eggs dressed as the Easter Bunny.

This year she is hoping to do the same and believes the power of the community can support families through difficult times.

She added: “I really believe our little ones are suffering right now and we have record numbers of children on our lists at the minute. The children’s numbers are actually exceeding the adults which is pretty sad so anything at all we can do to make them smile is a huge bonus.”

Earlier this year, Hebburn Helps launched a scheme where families can apply for a bag of food containing five meals per child throughout the lockdown.

To find out more about Hebburn Helps and how you can support the community, visit their website at this link.

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