Woman 'humbled' as 200 care packages delivered

A woman who delivered hundreds of care packages to elderly people this winter said she was "humbled' by the situations she encountered.

After turning 40 last year, Samantha Taylor, from Stoke-on-Trent, set about doing charity challenges to raise funds for her No Cold for the Old campaign.

She raised a total of £6,500, which enabled her to put together 217 packages to hand deliver to the homes of vulnerable members of the community throughout December.

The bundles contained blankets, draft excluders, hot water bottles, hats and gloves, as well as mince pies to help them stay warm during the colder months.

"The very first package that I delivered, a gentleman couldn't physically shut his front door so when I knocked, the door was ajar," Taylor told BBC Radio Stoke.

She added: "When he finally came to the door he was wrapped up in a coat, hat and gloves. I explained about the package and he was unbelievably grateful.

"I walked away from that home with tears."

Together with her partner, she went on to deliver the winter warmers across Stoke-on-Trent, including to residents without family at Florence Care Home in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The fundraiser recalled: "I got to sit with those people, give them the packages and their faces alone said it all.

"It's just incredible and it really hit home what difference I was making, [it was] very emotional."

As snow and ice has coated Staffordshire and an amber cold weather alert has been extended until Sunday, Taylor has been flooded with messages of gratitude.

Moved by the impact the act of kindness has had on the community, she has vowed to continue fundraising and delivering the packages into 2026.

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