VOLUNTEERS and staff at Teesdale Day Clubs have been busy delivering gifts to members who have not been able to meet for nine months.
Special Christmas hampers were hand-delivered to 192 members across Teesdale, filled with festive goodies including handmade cards from schoolchildren, cakes and face masks.
Members of the ten day clubs across Teesdale have not been able to meet for their weekly lunches since the first national lockdown was announced in March.
Staff and volunteers have continued to keep in contact with all members since then.
Madeleine Walton from Teesdale Day Clubs, said: “We have delivered 192 hampers.
“The hampers have all sorts of things and our chefs have been busy baking and decorating individual cakes for everybody as well as biscuits.
“We had some lovely donations from the Co-op and Morrison and each of the hampers has face masks as well as hand sanitiser.”
Staindrop resident Phyllis Wood, who has been a member of the day clubs for ten years, was over the moon to receive hers.
Mrs Wood, who is spending Christmas alone this year, said she missed the social aspects of the club and looks forward to the new year when they may be able to start up again.
She added: “We’ve got into a routine with special days when someone from the day clubs ring, but I miss the social side of things. Everybody has been kind looking out for me.
“I have followed the guidelines and I have not gone anywhere and I get my jab tomorrow so I can last a few more weeks.”
Mrs Wood’s family planned to visit on Christmas day but any conversations were through the window.
