Islanders rally to save local family's Christmas

Tuesday 11 December 2018

Islanders have rallied together to help a family of seven - whose youngest child has been in hospital since her birth six months ago - so far raising over £1,000 to help buy electricity, Christmas lunch and gifts.

The charity Caring Cooks of Jersey launched the appeal for donations after the family touched "each and everyone's hearts."

Melissa Nobrega, the charity's CEO, explained that the family is one that the 24 Caring Cooks have supported this year through their weekly meal service. The charity's founding service helped a total of 108 islanders to whom 926 nutritious meals, cooked by volunteers, have been delivered. The service was created to allow families to sit down at least once a week to share a meal, without the worry of having to cook, or spending money on ingredients. 

Pictured: The family touched everyone's heart at Caring Cooks, staff and volunteers included.

The family, which has five children aged 15 years to 6 months, started using the service two months ago, and "stood out" for the volunteers. The youngest, a little girl, has been in hospital most of her life. Mrs Nobrega explained: "She is really poorly...the mum has been in hospital with her and the father has been trying to keep the family together and look after the older children."

Ms Nobrega said the family had to move house recently and has no tumble dryer, which makes it hard for them to get everyone's washing dry, especially in the cold weather. 

Seeing that the family was facing a "a truly awful Christmas," the charity decided to do something special for them. They started a crowdfunding campaign to raise £250 to help the family "buy electricity, their Christmas lunch and a few gifts for their children." 

Writing on the page, Ms Nobrega said:"As you can imagine, juggling caring for three other children while your baby is in hospital, while trying to hold down jobs to pay your rent and put food on the table is a fruitless task - it could happen to the best of us."

"We don't do this normally," Ms Nobrega explained. "We deliver the meals and leave it at that. But all of us fell in love with the family. I heard of the story of this young man who took his own life because of his financial struggles and it resonated with me. I thought this is the time for giving and created the page."

Pictured: Islanders have donated gifts for the children and lights for the family's Christmas tree.

While the charity originally hoped to raise £250, the donations reached over four times that in just 24 hours. But to add to the monetary donations, others also offered help with gifts for the children, food, lights for the Christmas tree and electrical vouchers. Local charities The Salvation Army and A Gift for Christmas also jumped on board to help the family. 

Sharing an update on the amount raised after just a few hours on the charity's Facebook page, she wrote: "Oh my gosh £650, I’m just in awe of the incredible generosity and heartfelt support from everyone who has donated... It won’t be just about the money, this poor Dad is so stressed at the moment, to know that 33 people care enough will be the biggest boost for him."

Ms Nobrega said the charity will give the money and donations, as well as a tumble dryer, to the family on Saturday as part of their normal meal service. Each family on the programme will also receive soup and mince pies from Morvan Hotels, and gifts donated by Cindy Jacobs. "I can't believe how much people have donated," Ms Nobrega said.