By Rachael Grealish

In the spirit of goodwill and community solidarity, the Egremont Food Appeal is returning for 2023, aiming to provide a lifeline to families struggling amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis. 

The appeal, which gained widespread support in previous years, seeks to alleviate the burden faced by families in Egremont and surrounding areas during the festive season.

Egremont Food Appeal organisers have started a fundraising campaign including a GoFundMe page with a £3,000 target and collection points for non-perishable food.

The first Egremont Food Appeal campaign was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic as Dan Shutt, one of the organisers, told The Herdwick News the aim was to help families ‘that had been hit hard’ in that time’.

He said: “Everyone needed some form of help then and we knew that we had to do something for those families that had been hit hard through loss of income, that was certainly a time for giving, we raised over £14,000.

“Life went back to some kind of normal but we would never forget what we were told by Julie Shepherd, Headteacher at Orgill at the time ‘these families are here every Christmas’ that always sticks in our minds.”

Dan then explained that due to the cost of living crisis, it was ‘obvious’ a second appeal was needed in 2022 and he estimates this third appeal will help around 150 families in Egremont.

“With the cost of living crisis last year it was obvious that we had to do our second appeal,” Dan said, “We delivered £8000 worth of food and the reason for this one is very much the same as last year, we know that there are families living in Egremont that need our help this Christmas.

“We have never really recovered from the pandemic or the cost of living crisis, nothing is affordable any more. We will help approximately 150 families, all from Egremont and surrounding areas. Our aim is to help lighten the load for as many families as possible in our fantastic little community”

One thing Dan said he knew the organisers have in their corner is support from the community, adding: “We know that we will have the continued support of local businesses and individuals because they know that we will deliver.”

Donations to the appeal can be made via the GoFundMe page and cash and non-perishable food donations can be made at the following locations:

• The La’al Club, Egremont
• Hartley’s Ice Cream Store, Egremont
• Hartley’s Tea Rooms, St Bees
• Thornhill Post Office
• Pearson’s Newsagent’s, Egremont.0
• Gosforth Bakery
• Paula Ratcliffe, Bigrigg