Richard Huish Elves On Community Engagement
The distant glow of Christmas lights are now visible. So on a dark November night, a few of Santa’s older elves popped along to a very worthy local charity ‘Christmas Sparkle’, which is a project run by the community for the community, working with local charities to support families in need. The simple but challenging aim is to give a Christmas gift to every child aged 0-18 years living in difficult circumstances in Taunton and Wellington. How challenging? Well, for Christmas 2023, they wrapped and delivered 2,477 parcels, an increase of 10% on the previous year. Even so, through much hard work, they were able to meet all the requests.
Christmas Sparkle is based here in Taunton in rooms kindly lent for the period by Summerfield Ltd. The project is led by Gill and Alison, with help from many volunteers. This year, that includes four young people who have come via the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and of course that is a cause close to our Provincial heart as well. The team includes Candice (runs everything that happens in Wellington), Hollie (fundraiser), Penny (visiting school assemblies), Jules (Corporate Volunteering Lead), Alison (logistics – they need acres of wrapping paper and miles of Sellotape!) and Jo on refreshments. Of course, the gifts they supply need to be safe for the age, especially the under 3’s, and that is Ruth’s bailiwick.
Pictured above are boxes full of presents for the girls, sorted by suitable ages. Don’t worry….the boys’ boxes were on the other side of the room. As well as gifts, Christmas Sparkle are always pleased to receive straight-forward financial support. That’s where the Richard Huish Lodge, Taunton were able to step in, as they did last year; this year the Lodge was very pleased to donate £400 to this good cause. Pictured in the first photo above are Mike, Alison, Worshipful Master Richard, an anonymous teddy bear, Charlie and Gill. Why anonymous, you may say, how can that be? Because Christmas Sparkle are running a ‘Name that bear’ competition at two local Christmas Fairs: Kingfisher Court retirement development in Taunton on 29th November and the Junction 24 fair in Bridgwater on 8th December.
In the photo above, you can see an empty fold-up table. It would be wonderful to fill it – and even more wonderful if you know of anybody who can lend Christmas Sparkle some more, as they are short of such crucial resources. Email Gill on: christmassparkleproject@gmail.com if you can help. Christmas Sparkle are very aware that there are similar needs elsewhere in Somerset and are looking to expand their benevolent work. They have just opened a new project in Bridgwater and so if your Lodge / Chapter there or nearby is looking for meaningful COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT with a small start-up, here’s your chance! Contact Amanda on: sparkle.project.bridgwater@gmail.com. Similarly, if there are Lodges / Chapters in Yeovil and Chard that could offer support for Christmas 2025, then Gill would be very pleased to hear from them, email address as above. A Happy Christmas from the Richard Huish Lodge No. 8518.
Report by: Charlie Barker – Secretary – Richard Huish Lodge 8518
