Sunderland family follow grandmother’s footsteps in delivering Christmas gifts
Written by Bethany Jones on 4th December 2021
A Sunderland-based family is continuing their tradition of raising money for vulnerable children at Christmas.
Norah’s North Pole are collecting gifts for children and families around the North East – which includes Sunderland and South Tyneside – that otherwise may not receive any presents at Christmas.
Organised by the Wilkinson family, the scheme was created in honour of their grandmother, Norah Wilkinson, who sadly passed away in 2015, aged 92.
Norah lived by the motto “It’s nice to be nice” and each year would take her grandchildren to make Christmas boxes and deliver them to families who need them to make their Christmas more special.
The family, in their website mission statement, said: “We are not a charity, just a family who wants to make a difference and sprinkle a little Christmas kindness.”
Sarah Imrie, one of Norah’s grandchildren and member of the scheme, said: “We love doing it because all of the new generation of the family are involved too.”
By Christmas Eve, 2020 the family had packed 8,876 Santa sacks, received over 47,000 gift donations and raised £28,201, which helped nearly 9,000 families.
This year, to help you can donate gifts from Norah’s North Pole’s Amazon wish list, drop donations off at the drop off points that range across much of the North East or donate money to the Go Fund Me.
Gifts can include brand-new items such as toys, warm clothes and money that can be used to purchase items for the families.
The Go Fund Me, set up by Victoria Imrie-Bell in October 2021, has already raised £10,311 of its £15,000 goal, with 409 people donating to the cause so far.
People who have recently donated to the funds said: “Utterly heart-breaking. Such a good cause…A little bit goes a long way.”
You can read more about this cause by visiting their website.
To donate via their Amazon gift list visit this page.
To donate to their Go Fund Me visit this page.
