Chelmsford care home donates to local foodbank

A care home in Chelmsford has teamed up with a local foodbank to support families in need during as the colder weather approaches.

To celebrate this year’s Harvest Festival, residents and team members at Care UK’s Manor Lodge, on Manor Road, collected much-needed food donations for local charity The Little Edi Foundation, which supports children affected by poverty. The home also received a visit from Tess Griggs, CEO of The Little Edi Foundation, and presented her with the donations collected via a drop-off point that was set up in the home’s reception area.

As part of their celebrations, residents visited St John’s Church, alongside children from St Michael's Primary School, for an a-maize-ing Harvest Festival service complete with seasonal songs.

Everyone enjoyed a day learning about the origins of the festival, what it means for today’s society, and why this long-standing tradition should not be forgotten, with the service including prayers, hymns, and the children delivering food donations to the altar.

Commenting on the day’s celebrations, resident Mary Littleson, aged 88, said: “What a wonderful service, and how lovely it is giving to those in need through The Little Edi Foundation. 

Maggie Ziemianska, Home Manager at Manor Lodge, said: “It was fantastic to watch the children from St Michael’s Primary School enjoying their Harvest Festival service and our residents had a wonderful time.

“Harvest Festival is a day in the calendar where we can reflect and show gratitude for the food that we have, while serving as an opportunity to connect with others.  

“At Manor Lodge, we are always looking for ways to give back and support our community and local charities, which is why we were also delighted to raise much-needed donations for The Little Edi Foundation.

“In these challenging times, we know many people may be struggling, and with Christmas fast approaching, it’s more important than ever for us to support charities which provide a vital lifeline for many members of our local community.”

To find out more about Care UK’s Harvest Festival, please visit: careuk.com/harvest-festival 

Manor Lodge is a modern care home that provides full-time residential, dementia nursing and short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.