Piles and piles of Christmas gifts, around 100 in total, were donated by women attending the Christmas social in the Kettering congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a local women’s refuge. The Women’s Refuge in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire looks after women and their children who are the victims of domestic abuse. A few weeks earlier, children’s gifts had been given by members of the congregation participating at a family Christmas outdoor nativity event for the off-spring of the women, to be given out at Christmas.
Pamela Parker, organiser of the service project, commented, "Last year each person brought along a gift so that each woman in attendance at the Christmas social was given a present. This year we decided that we would donate gifts for the Women's Refuge. We have supported this organisation in previous years. There was a huge response from the women and many gifts were donated for women and children which were gratefully received by the refuge".
The recipients were thrilled to receive the bags of wrapped Christmas presents which were handed out at the refuge Christmas party. This is the third year members of the Church in Kettering have been involved in helping the refuge, which does such brilliant work in the local area in supporting women and children at a difficult time.