Helping to spread Christmas cheer where it’s most needed

Every year, our teams in Germany, Romania, Spain and the UK collect Christmas donations and raise money for local charities and organisations. 

But 2020 has been a year unlike any other. Ford Fund is stepping up with $66,000 (€55,600) of extra funding to support charities that provide food, warm clothing, gifts and essential items to those in need. 

The Christmas initiatives include supplying vehicles to ensure the safe delivery of the packages. 

In the UK, we are supporting Crisis, the national charity for homeless people in Great Britain, to create wellbeing packages consisting of toiletries, snacks, small clothing items and digital accessories to be distributed across their 11 permanent 'Skylight' centres in England, Scotland and Wales, and their temporary London Christmas centres.

Also in the UK, we are collecting donations for New Direction, a residential centre offering support to homeless individuals to break the cycle of homelessness, and raised money for two hospices. 

The Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (Red Cross) and Caritas Cologne, in Germany, are putting our funds towards providing warm clothing and presents to refugees and homeless people. And our employees in Germany are making their annual collection of toys and gifts for children in need in Bulgaria, Moldavia, Romania and the Ukraine. 

We are also supporting the Red Cross in Spain, as well as Caritas Valencia that are helping to provide food and vital supplies to vulnerable families in Valencia, Madrid and the surrounding areas. 

Students from our Resource and Engagement Centre in Craiova, Romania, are working with our volunteers to deliver Christmas trees, handmade decorations and essential food items to the 100 poorest families in the Dolj region. 

Our employees in Hungary are collecting gifts for children who live in poverty in the village of Tarcsapuszta. 

Ford Fund manager Debbie Chennells.

“In a year like this one, every act of kindness, generosity and giving matters. I am so grateful that we’ve been able to work with our international grant-making partner GlobalGiving and charities across Europe to offer a helping hand.”

This follows the Fund’s Gratitude Grants program that awarded $5,000 (€4,200) to 19 community organisations across ten European countries, as part of Global Caring Month, in September.

Throughout 2020, Ford Fund has provided critical assistance to local communities coping with pandemic-related issues. For more information on our Christmas activities and other initiatives, visit https://www.fordfund.org

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