Give where you live this Christmas

Hertfordshire Community Foundation is appealing to local residents in the county to donate £5 or more to help some of the most vulnerable children and families in their communities.

From families struggling to make ends meet to those who find themselves homeless, together we can brighten up their Christmas.
Through HCF’s Love Herts Christmas appeal, your generosity could help feed a local child living in poverty, provide a hot meal on Christmas day to one of Hertfordshire’s homeless or go towards helping a family buy a basic appliance such as a washing machine or a child’s bed.

Alex Elmadhi from St. Albans said: “As a mum with five year old twins, I was facing relationship and financial difficulties, and struggling to make ends meet. When my fridge stopped working, I didn’t know how I would find the money to replace it. Fortunately my support worker referred me for a grant from HCF, which helped me buy a fridge. I was incredibly grateful for HCF’s help without which I don’t know what I would have done. Please give generously to the Love Herts appeal so that HCF can provide much needed support to other local families.”

Around 10% of the county’s population is living in its most deprived areas including 28,100 children. During 2016/2017 Herts Community Foundation provided over 70 small grants across the county, distributing over £15,000 to families in need. Regrettably, the charity continues to receive more requests for support that it can fulfil.

Helen Gray, Director of the Foundation, said: “For many of us it is hard to imagine being in a situation where you simply cannot replace a basic household appliance such as a fridge, washing machine or oven. Yet for many low income families this is the reality. They suddenly find themselves unable to provide hot meals or clean clothes for their children. Please consider supporting our Love Herts Christmas appeal so we can help more families like Alex and her children.”

If you would like to make a difference this Christmas, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/hertscf/loveherts. Alternatively please send a cheque payable to ‘Hertfordshire Community Foundation’ to Foundation House, 2-4 Forum Place, Fiddlebridge Lane, Hatfield Herts AL10 0RN.