Meet the Bristol woman raising money to feed families in need this Christmas
Sara Taylor says she decided to act after a car crash helped her realise "life is too short"
A woman from Bristol has launched a fundraising appeal to try and get Christmas dinners to families in need this December.
We've spoken to Sara Taylor, a care worker who's trying to raise £2,000, so she can give Christmas dinners to 100 families that might not otherwise be able to afford one.
Where did the idea come from?
"With COVID and everything that's been happening and people struggling with money, and also with the free school meals kind of thing, it got into our heads and thought, 'well, there might be people out there who won't be eating Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, and how sad that would be," she said.
"Obviously I work in the care industry and a lot of my users have turned around and said 'we'll be having beans on toast for Christmas...
"So it's trying to get, we want to feed 400 people if possible. If we can do more that would be fantastic."
Sara's set up a Go Fund Me page where you can donate and you can ask for help via a Facebook page.
She says the care company she works for Top Care, has already pledged to donate enough to feed 100 people.
“I think it’s a fantastic cause and one we are very happy to support," a spokesperson for the company said.
"It’s been a tough year for everyone and know body deserves to go without a meal, especially at Christmas.
"Sara is a valuable member of our Care team and its really nice to see her making a difference to people’s lives, inside and outside of work.”
hey have vowed to match donations up to a value of £500. Sara has called it "huge".
"It's just trying to get the word out there to get donations, to get supermarkets to help us.
"We'll be buying most of the food ourselves."
Sara and her team are looking to create each meal for a family of four.
It will include a bird (either chicken or turkey) and all the trimmings including roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables, pigs in blankets, gravy and a desert - either Christmas pudding or Christmas cake.
She's planning on delivering it all the day before Christmas Eve.
Life is too short
We asked Sara why she has decided to be so proactive to help others, said she said she decided "life to too short", after being involved in a potentially serious car accident earlier this year.
"If you can help somebody, whether it's literally just crossing the street or doing what I'm doing, you should.
"Humanity is lovely, we are a kind people. But sometimes it can be so missed.
"We just need a lot more care and love out there, especially with what's going on at the moment."
If you want to donate, get involved by volunteering or ask for help, you can do so via Sara's Christmas Dinner Appeal Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/Christmas-dinner-appeal-104468384819134
You can also donate via the Go Fund Me page here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/christmas-dinner-appeal?sharetype=teams&member=6756424&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&pc_code=ot_co_dashboard_a&rcid=6560e077e0534131b9a2c1c60c8552d6