An eggciting partnership between a community radio station, a charity and a Freemasons lodge has been hatched to provide Easter eggs to good causes throughout the North East.
Radio Northumberland, Bedlington charity Leading Link and Lodge Temperance 2557 Freemasons have teamed up to distribute Easter eggs to children and special schools, food banks, care homes, veterans’ charities and youth centres across North Tyneside, Newcastle, and Northumberland.
Already pledges of Easter eggs have been made by Morrisons and Tesco supermarkets and the first donation from the business community has been received by Chris Tait of Layer 7 IT Security.
Chris’s kind donation has enabled the purchase of around 1000 Easter eggs.
“I heard about the egg giveaway and decided to do what I could to help. With the cost of living and other factors like COVID, the simple gift of a chocolate egg could make a big difference to many families who are finding things difficult now, “said Chris who as well as running the IT consultancy runs a busy farm at Wingate near Rothbury.
Radio Northumberland is advertising and coordinating the collection of eggs and Leading Link will help to distribute them to families together with Lodge Temperance 2557 who are using their members to coordinate with care homes and schools.
Project organiser Tom Stewart said, “This is something we do every year, but our partnership with Radio Northumberland and Leading Link will ensure that more people than ever benefit from the generosity of those that have donated money or eggs.”
Lyn Horton from Leading Link said: “We are witnessing more and more poverty and hardship in the region and buying Easter eggs isn’t always a priority for parents and carers. There are many people in our area who may welcome a bit of extra cheer this Easter and this project will put a smile on thousands of faces.”
Donations of eggs can be made at Leading Link, Ridge Terrace Bedlington or by contacting Keith Newman on 07814 397951, Tom Stewart on 07463 123438 or Lyn Horton on 07590 763613
Chris Tait of Layer 7 with Keith Newman and Tom Stewart representing Radio Northumberland and Lodge Temperance 2557
