Churches come together to bag Christmas kindness

The big story of the last seven days

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Eight South Tyneside churches working as one have launched a special Christmas appeal to help people struggling with life and the cost-of-living crisis.

They are seeking support in their bid to deliver to those in need a record 450 'bags of kindness'-gift packs full of food treats.

When the first three churches became involved in the project in 2023, part of the national charity Love Your Neighbour’s Love Christmas campaign, they filled 200 bags.

In a startling advance, they boosted that figure to 350 last year, with each bag being valued at about £25.