By Ismay Woods
HUNDREDS of Christmas hampers, dinners and toiletries were delivered in the Newtownards area during the festive period – despite fears the appeal for donations would not go ahead.
Thanks to the generosity and community spirit of the town, hundreds of vulnerable people received hampers, dinners and other essentials over the Christmas period.
In total, the organisers of the appeal received donations of items and cash, which enabled the delivery of 506 hampers, 100 toiletry packages, 50 meat packs and 100 Christmas dinners. Donations also went towards purchasing 300 rolls of Christmas wrapping paper.
The appeal was co-ordinated by local woman Tracy McVea-Boyd, which resulted in the delivery of the much-needed items, thanks to 22 local charities, organisations, community associations, schools, businesses and individuals.
Tracy described the response as ‘outstanding’, adding that despite not being requested, many donations of toys were also received, which were passed on to relevant organisations, which in turn arranged for the toys to be passed on to children and families in need.
Tracy revealed the distribution of hampers and other items had been at risk of not taking place as it had done in previous years.
Last October, Newtownards councillor Steven Irvine gave his backing when Tracy decided to ensure the initiative would go ahead for Christmas 2025. He said: “Tracy’s commitment to community work is second to none — many will know her from her days with The Warehouse and her continued efforts to support local families.”
Tracy engaged with local community groups, The Link and The Salvation Army, to help deliver the project. Both The Link’s charity shop on Regent Street and The Salvation Army offered safe spaces for donations to be collected, with the local St Vincent de Paul conference also being involved.
In addition, community groups across the town ran their own local collection points. A total of 22 organisations, businesses, schools, community groups and charities, along with local football clubs, were involved in collecting items for the hampers, or by making monetary donations.
Tracy explained those who organised collection points ensured the hampers and other deliveries went to those who would benefit most. “The networking was amazing,” Tracy said, adding deliveries were made not only in Newtownards, but also in the Ards peninsula, Bangor and Holywood.
Saying she was ‘blown away by the response’, the local mum revealed it was planned to deliver 250 to 300 hampers: “And we thought that was pushing it,” she recalled.
Tracy described how her ‘passion is my community’, and also spoke of her pride at how the public in Newtownards ‘pulled together to make this happen’. She thanked all those who helped make the appeal such a resounding success, and vowed she and her team of volunteers ‘have no plans to stop’.
While admitting it was ‘sad’ there was a need in the town for such an initiative, the Newtownards woman said: “I am excited to get up and be able to help.”
