Santa is heading for Ravenshead and Blidworth​​​​​​​ – here’s how you can back his fundraising for families in need

This year’s sleigh tour, which starts tonight (Monday, December 7) is slightly different to previous years as a socially-distanced Santa is not able to hand out sweets and is encouraging chldren to wave to him from their homes.

While Santa’s reindeer build their strength for Christmas Eve, members of Ravenshead and Blidworth Rotary Club have stepped in to help pull the sleigh as Santa tours the villages up until December 17.

Foodbanks are hoping that residents will show their support for the Rotary Santa appeal by making donations online.

Richard Lord, president of the local Rotary Club, said: “People are always so generous when putting money into the buckets as Santa makes his rounds. This year is different but donations are needed more than ever and we implore people to go on line and give their support at https://www.wavetosanta.org/donate”.

Much of the money will go to foodbanks which are under greater pressure than ever because of the health crisis.

Between them so far in 2020, Sherwood Community Church and Ravenshead-based The Social Action Hub have received donations from Rotary totalling more than £2600. Money has come directly from the Ravenshead and Blidworth Club and via a regional Rotary4foodbanks programme which bulk buys food at discount prices.

With the help of donations from Rotary, The Social Action Hub has delivered 1265 meals to people and families in need since the start of the first lockdown. A food action scheme run by Sherwood Community Church in Blidworth has helped 291 families with more than 1500 meals delivered this year. They are looking to provide 100 hampers to families to brighten their Christmas.

Amelia Betts, food share coordinator at the hub, said: “There is no way we could provide the vital help we do for some of the neediest in our community without the donations made by Rotary Club.”

Mark Himsworth of Sherwood Community Church said: “People are always generous around Christmas time and we appreciate that, but the problem is going to get worse from January as redundancies increase and the furlough scheme ends.”