Delivering Christmas at New Beginnings Reading

Despite not having the festive season we all planned, there was a Christmas miracle at the Queen’s Arms. We’ve been astounded by the enormous generosity of so many people and organisations to make sure that those who may not be able to afford Christmas get the day they deserved.

Our sincerest thanks, good wishes and a very happy new year to all our wonderful supporters, and especially everyone who kindly contributed to our festive offering.

With the help of countless good samaritans, New Beginnings Reading was able to give out Christmas hampers with all the trimmings to those who had facilities to cook at home, a hot Christmas meal for those who don’t have any cooking facilities, presents and stockings for kids as well as boxes of essentials for all of service users.

Hot Christmas Day dinners ready to be collected.

For the Christmas hampers:

Berkshire Meat Traders who provided turkeys, sausage meat and pigs in blankets

Alice Norman who gave us carrots and parsnips from her allotment

Crumbs Food Co Reading who donated sprouts and quorn joints

CA Belcher and Son and Freely Fruity for vegetables

BP Garage in Lower Earley who gave mince pies

University of Reading for the Gingerbread house kits

Aldi in Earley who provided bags to put the hamper food in

Sarah Daniels for giving us vegetable oil and Christmas puddings

And huge numbers of individual supporters who donated stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet treats such as biscuits and chocolates.

Vegetables from CA Belcher and Son and Freely Fruit for Christmas dinner and the hampers.

Volunteers descended on the Queen’s Arms on Christmas Day to make sure those who had no other means would be able to get a traditional hot Christmas Day lunch. Thanks to all of our volunteers who gave up their time over Christmas to make sure all of this could be possible.

Again, we were so happy to receive donations from wonderful generous supporters. Special thanks for providing the Christmas Day feast go to:

Cobbs Farm, Caversham Butcher and Costco Reading for meat

Berkshire Meat Traders for all important pigs in blankets.

CA Belcher and Son and Freely Fruit provided the vegetables including potatoes, carrots, sprouts, cauliflowers and red cabbage for over 150 Christmas dinners, which the Freely Fruit team helped peel and cut!

Many, many individuals receive our thanks for donating gravy, puddings and all the extras.

Turkey ready to be served up for Christmas dinner.

On top of all of this, the lovely Matt and Martin donated boxes ready to give to those living on the streets - some boxes for men, some for women and others for dogs! We received gifts and toiletries from Transforme Reading. We left no stone unturned, with Ikea donating trees that we used for our Santa’s grotto and then gave out to families who weren’t able to afford them.

Boxes of essential for rough sleepers from Martin and Matt.

Before Christmas there was huge generosity from all sides, with donations coming through the wishlist we set up on Amazon leaden with gloves, hats, toiletries and snacks (thank you everyone!) to people just popping by the Queen’s Arms with individual donations.

Gifts and toiletries from Transforme Reading

Thank you to everyone for all your support throughout the whole year. We are so fortunate to be wholeheartedly backed by our local community. Here’s to a better 2021 which we’ll come through together!

Freely Fruit team outside Queen’s Arms with chair of New Beginnings Reading Grace Gomez.