ABCD – ALONE Behind Closed Doors

 

I have to start this report off with a HUGE thank you to everyone who donated, shared, nominated and volunteered their services to this year’s ABCD -ALONE Behind Closed Doors Christmas Hampers Program.

Now in its 4th year, I can report we are stronger than ever with a clear vision for the future.

ABCD’s core message is compassion in mental and is presently the only UK charity who provide tailored made food hampers for families and individuals over the festive season affected by mental health. Each nominee has their own personal shopper and each hamper is packed with an abundance of groceries, from meat and fish, side dishes, desserts, snacks, drinks and more to see them through the festive season.

This year we made various changes to the program which saw a smoother running service and in the future will enable us to provide for even more families and individuals.

Changes were as follows

• Assigning personal shoppers for each nominate
• Delivery food raw (All meats marinated)
• Delivering early Christmas Eve morning

Due to the changes made, to ensure it all went according to plan, we reduced the number of slots, making more about quality rather than quantity.

All the nominees who qualified more than met the requirements for ABCD ensuring they all had the most spectacular Christmas ever.

 

Mental health affects many people for different reasons. This year a number of nominees were carers for family members for whom the stress of caring for a loved affected them mentally emotionally and physically.

For one family, we supplied not only food for the festive season but additional shopping, gifts for the kids and a brand new much-needed kitchen appliance. For us, it is about meeting the need to help eliminate the stress of mental health.

We were also blessed to have partners who came on board, who will in the future increase the awareness of the charity and add much-needed insight on how we can improve ensuring we meet the needs of those we seek to help.

Thank You

 

No man is an island and without your help, ABCD would not exist.

First and foremost I want to thank every single person who donated to the cause enabling us to reach our target.

Next, I would like to thank everybody who shared the posts and those who nominated families and individuals. 

To all the volunteers, Sharon and her daughter all the way from America, who helped with shopping and packing. Julie, Jackie and Shona from IWC (International Wholeness Centre) who helped with the early morning shopping. Shona volunteered her time on Monday to help me in the kitchen, she was phenomenal

Shona from GRG (God’s Romantic Getaway) who did all of the admin work and took time to assist some of the nominees with filling out their forms.

Lorraine Furgus, who gave up her Saturday evening to help contact the nominees to let them know that they had been nominated.

Richard and Simone Daisley, Judie Regis, Angela Manderson, Dayon Parker and Sharon Adebambo who got out of their bed early Christmas Eve morning to make the deliveries, driving to destinations as far as  Kent and Watford.

 

 

To my friends and family at The People’s Christian Fellowship in Tottenham, for once again allowing me to use the building to store, prepare, pack, and deliver from. Your ongoing support means the world to me.

To Courtney Brown, for your support and encouragement and for coming on board with the vision, thank you.

This Christmas was one of the best Christmas is I ever had and in terms of organisation and a smooth-running ship was one of the best for ABCD too. Going forward, our plans for next year which is to complete the charity registration for ABCD as well as make contact with various organisations for sponsorship and endorsement.

We would also like to support some of the families throughout the year and will keep you posted regarding how we plan to do this and hope to get some companies on board who will be willing to donate time, resources and labour to assist.

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