Nicola is a star at STARS

Kind hearted Nicola Edwards, a Lead Care Co-ordinator at STARS in Leek, raised over £480 via Facebook from family and friends to pay for dinners, presents and selection boxes at Chrsitmas.

Vulnerable clients based in the Staffordshire Moorlands area, including single people, sofa surfers and struggling families were supported. As well as raising money, Nicola also persuaded a local restaurant to donate £300 worth of meals, and even managed to secure a free turkey donated by her local butchers. This generous support helped provide a Christmas dinner, pudding and crackers for 25 adults and 8 children on Christmas Day.

Nicola said: “Having provided gifts and hampers for over four years, I recognise the needs of the clients in our area. Having the skills and local knowledge really helps to draw support from outside agencies as well as my work colleagues.

“We see such hardship and loneliness in our community so if the delivery of the Christmas meals and gifts brings a smile or a feeling of warmth then I feel that I am providing a service.”

After the costs of presents and food were taken from the donations, the remaining £180 was donated to Haregate Community Centre in Leek, who were also providing food parcels and donating presents to clients and to families in the surrounding areas.

Clinical Administrator Naomi Goodwin said: “I was lucky enough to help Nicola deliver the dinners and presents to the clients on Christmas Eve, and the clients were absolutely over the moon with the generosity and thought that Nicola had put in.

“There was also an elderly gentleman with cancer spending Christmas alone who was just so grateful. Nicola really does have such a big heart and does so much for so many, and really deserves recognition for her kindness and hard work.”