Ray Collins Charitable Trust provide hampers and dinner

The Ray Collins Charitable Trust (TRCCT), a charity which helps local people in a variety of ways, packed 8,000 food items into hampers on Sunday, December 11.

A total of 20 volunteers packed soup, tinned fruit, custard, tinned vegetables, fish, meat, baked beans, boxes of cereal, biscuits, pasta, chutney, pickles, tea, coffee, sweets, chocolates, cream crackers, hot chocolate, crisps, cakes and more into boxes for over 65s and local families.

READ MORE: More bus companies to reduce fares in new year for three months

On Christmas Eve, founder Ray Collins and a dozen volunteers transformed the new Down To Earth Cafe space in the Old Stables into the venue for a Christmas Day Dinner.

The Christmas dinner (Image: Ray Collins)

Forty dinner guests to enjoy a traditional roast dinner with all the trimmings, apple pies and custard plus mince pies, tea and coffee.

Table decorations from Charlton Park Garden Centre added to the festive feel and free prize draw prizes were laid out ready to surprise guests.

The team of volunteers collected dinner guests.

Mr Collins said: “The hampers meant lots of smiley faces were guaranteed. The cost-of-living crisis has hit our food bill hard over £7,500 for food and boxes this year.

READ MORE: Calls for public to help with county health and care proposals

“What an amazing team and community effort this has been again this year. Merry Christmas everyone we hope you all have a fantastic Christmas we know we will.”

-

Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @geeharland