Care home’s Christmas donations to Peterlee children

PADDINGTON Bear and boxes of chocolates are among the gifts donated by a Peterlee care home to children in need this Christmas.

Staff and residents at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, on Manor Way, have put together two hampers of goodies for community project Santa’s Wish.

The project was set up three years ago to provide toys, toiletries, pyjamas and food hampers for people and families in and around Peterlee over the festive holiday.

Two hampers were gifted by the care home – one each for a boy and a girl – which include a knitted doll, handmade Paddington Bear, selection boxes of chocolates, books, and small toys.

Peterlee Mayor Cllr Terry Duffy accepted the donations on behalf of Santa’s Wish, which has received support from Peterlee Town Council and Durham County Council this year.

A jigsaw puzzle was also donated by Bannatyne Lodge Care Home for Mayor Cllr Duffy to use as a raffle prize to raise funds for his chosen charity for 2020, Blesma, The Limbless Veterans charity.

Dawn Minto, activities coordinator at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, said: “We wanted to do our bit to support this year’s Santa’s Wish, as they do a lot to help disadvantaged families in our local area.

“Our staff and residents donated items for the hampers and the knitted bear and Paddington were from Knit for Peace UK, which gave loads of knitted items to the residents earlier this month.

“We’d like to thank Mayor Cllr Duffy for taking the hampers on behalf of Santa’s Wish and all the volunteers who help run such a worthwhile community support initiative.”

Peterlee Mayor Cllr Terry Duffy said: “I cannot thank Bannatyne Lodge enough for their continued support in our community events and their kindness and willingness to help with Peterlee Town Council’s fund-raising projects.

“Anyone who would like to contribute to ‘Santa’s Wish’, please go to our social media pages.”

To find out how to support Blesma, The Limbless Veterans charity, visit their website: www.blesma.org.