Using photography to shine a light on the good guys!
Just before Christmas I was given the opportunity to photograph a local event run by a doughty Scots lady for whom there’s no holding back when it comes to supporting the local community (& simultaneously helping the planet). This indomitable lady runs the local food share project which, she told me is a way of keeping tonnes of food out of landfill & redirecting it into the homes of local families who are only too grateful to receive & enjoy it.
This summer, alongside the food share this same lady ran a number of carefully organised summer fun sessions for local children who hadn’t been to school for months.
More recently, & for two days before Christmas she organised & led a team of volunteers in creating a socially-distanced Santa’s Grotto which was visited by more than 50 families during pre-arranged time slots. I can only imagine the logistical plate spinning it took to bring everything to fruition at the right time – Rahina I salute you! As one parent explained; ‘There isn’t much you can take children to this year, so this is brilliant!’
It was indeed a very special event. There were over 18 volunteers, many dressed up as characters from children’s films; Anna & Elsa from Frozen, a top-hatted Fat Controller a la Thomas the Tank Engine, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer & a couple of elves. Four Santas took turns pulling shifts across the two day event. Prior to opening & in one day, these lovely people helped set up two huge marquees, a festive forest, a Christmas tree & a grotto, & festooned them all with festive wreaths, baubles & bright lights ready to welcome the little guests.
On arrival, & after seeing ‘You Know Who’ (a somewhat overwhelming occasion for one little chap) children were guided with their parents around a chicane of sanitised chairs to see the tree in all its glory, then into the (heated) marquee to choose a gift & a book. Each family also got to take home a large hamper of food & a ‘golden ticket’ from Santa which will treat them to a future take-away meal from one of the local restaurants.
There was of course, social-distancing to be managed which made things a little more tricky than they might otherwise have been, but there was a lot of fun & goodwill & a good time was had by all.
In a very strange & challenging year in which our freedom to socialise or to attend events has been curtailed, this little outdoor festive oasis proved a big hit with the local community. Who knows it might even run again next year when hopefully everyone will be indoors (& where Santa will have no need of his 3-bar electric fire to keep his freezing tootsies from dropping off in the cold night air).
This was truly an event to warm the heart if not the fingers, & one which in all aspects, captured the true meaning of Christmas.