Hello! I'm Georgia, and this Christmas I'm fundraising with the aim to provide Christmas Care Packages to 25 vulnerable households in my local area of Haverhill, Suffolk.

10 years ago, my late Mum and I started a food hamper company called Noel Road, motivated by our health journey together after her cancer diagnosis.

A snapshot of when my Mum and I first launched Noel Road Health Hampers in 2014, 10 years ago

It’s coming up to 4 years since my Mum passed away.

Here I now am in Haverhill, Suffolk, with my partner Aris and our 2 year old son, in our cosy home with all my Mum’s wonderful Christmas decorations around us, many that she crafted herself.

Despite the stresses of Christmas, and the money worries our family had, my Mum LOVED the festivities and she made it so magical. And it was all in the detail.

A big reason I love Christmas is because of my Mum. And it tears me apart when I think of parents and young children who have nothing to look forward to this season, and at this darkest time of year.

Did you know that 1 in 6 parents won’t be able to afford to give their children Christmas presents this year in the UK? I just found out recently.

Poverty is rapidly increasing in this country. Millions are struggling to pay their bills, let alone celebrate this time of year.

This is why I want to help bring even a little Christmas magic to those who need it most. Who need some light in this dark time of year, to remind them they're not alone and that they matter.

This year, I've been focused on bringing both attention and direct relief to crises abroad (specifically in Gz-) but I'm increasingly aware of the suffering immediately around me; around us all.

When you come from privilege, as I do, it's harder to see the scope of this suffering. But once you see it, you can't un-see it. And to think of the pain of parents who can't provide a 'merry Christmas', or children who will have nothing to open on Christmas Day; who will think Santa simply doesn't stop at their house.

Each Christmas Care Package will contain:

- A festive food hamper, containing items like mince pies (fresh ones, courtesy of the award-winning Open Bakery in Brighton), nuts, oranges, hot chocolate, other confectionary and even a carrot to leave out for Rudolph on Christmas Eve!

- A present sack for each child, containing 4-5 substantial gifts, and catering to 3 different age groups, with items such as: books, Play-Doh, craft kits, stuffed toys and fun stationary!

[More photos to come!]

The budget for each food hamper is £10

The budget for each present sack is £15 (that’s an average of £3 per present! But we’re getting good deals on quality things and making it happen!)

That’s £250 needed for the food hampers. And with an estimated average of 2 children per household, that’ll be roughly £1000 for the present sacks. With packaging, delivery and other practicalities, the goal is £1200 overall.

I'm currently building a list of families-in-need to deliver these to by accessing through contacts and groups in the local community, and the delivery date will be 21 December (the Winter Solstice).

*** This is a 7 DAY DONATION DRIVE! ***

So please consider giving what you can to help me reach the goal!

(Anything over the £1200 goal, I will provide something extra in each Christmas Care Package. Otherwise, the donations will be carried through into next year!)

My intention is to do this each Christmas, so this is just the beginning!

I'm doing this in my Mum's memory, and as a revival of Noel Road, the company we had together, and that was named after a very special road in our family. (It just so happens to have the perfect name for a Christmas project! )