Families hit by cost-of-living crisis get breakfast hampers from care home residents

Shocked by reports of children going to school hungry, four residents in a care home have got together to organise breakfast and baby hampers for families hit by the cost-of-living crisis.

Valarie Ward, Margaret Smith, Colin Primrose and Jean Spiller, who live at Kings Lodge Care Home in West Byfleet, have been helping local families by gathering donations of tinned food, rice, pasta and even toothbrushes from care home staff, fellow residents and their family and friends.

The residents at the care home, run by CHD Living, have donated money and sent care staff to the supermarket with a shopping list of essentials such as long life milk for struggling families. The items bought are being used to make breakfast hampers full of tea, coffee and cereal as well as baby hampers containing nappies, wipes and other essential items.

Resident Valerie: 'Families need help more than ever'

Resident Valarie Ward saw a news report revealing more than 80 per cent of teachers say primary school children are coming to class hungry, and decided to do something about it.

“Families need help more than ever” said Valarie Ward, who used to volunteer at St Mary’s Church in West Byfleet and asked them to help her distribute the food hampers to families in need.

“I remembered that the church used to have a list of local people and families who needed help and support” said Valerie Ward.

“With prices rising so much, these families need help more than ever, as do so many more. It feels good to be able to help in some way and thanks to the generous donations we were able to put together some wonderful hampers.”

After helping with the care home’s hampers, Valarie Ward is keen to support more people and is hoping to help with a community fridge initiative being spearheaded by local councillor Amanda Boote.

Shaleeza Hasham, head of hospitality, communications and commissioning at CHD Living, said: “It’s incredibly heartwarming to hear of our residents supporting their local communities in this way.

“They are such a key part of their community, with some having long-standing ties to the area. The cost of living crisis is affecting so many, making programmes like this one from St Mary’s Church and the many others run by churches and food banks even more essential.”

click here for more details or to contact CHD Living Ltd