Local SSAFA division go above and beyond for Armed Forces community this Christmas

24 December 2020

Operation SSAFA Christmas Cheer delivered 72 lunches and a present from Santa's grotto out to veterans in the local area. On Christmas Eve the division will also send out presents to single veterans who will be celebrating alone this Christmas.

Earlier this year, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity were awarded a grant by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to help alleviate loneliness and isolation amongst the Armed Forces community during the Covid-19 outbreak and pandemic. The SSAFA Durham, Wear Valley and Teesdale division used some of this funding to support the local Armed Forces community through activities, such as the SSAFA Break initiative and Operation Christmas Cheer.

Pete and Issy, local veteran and partner said: “WOW and thrice WOW! Today we had a lovely Christmas Lunch as part of the local SSAFA effort to make sure those Veterans in isolation are not forgotten. Huge and heartfelt thanks to Ruth and the team of volunteers and to Broommill Farm, who have obviously been very busy today preparing and cooking for us.”

The SSAFA Break initiative supplied veterans with a breakfast roll and a socially distance chat. The SSAFA Break ran three times between October and November, delivering almost 70 bacon butties to veterans doors each time. The initiative was supported by the DCMS Loneliness Fund to help combat loneliness and isolation in the Armed Forces community.

The SSAFA Division have also received £200 of goodies which they will distribute next week in the lead up to Christmas. The money was raised by Vicky Jewitt of Company Voneus, who ran a raffle in order to support single veterans this Christmas.