Family donate more than 700 Christmas meals
BBCA family and a team of volunteers have donated more than 700 Christmas meals to people in and around Surrey.
The food, donated by businesses in Woking and Guildford, included 40 turkeys, 1,500 pigs in blankets, 4,000 roast potatoes, and 100kg of both brussels sprouts and carrots.
Matt Gaskin, who has been preparing the meals with his family for eight years, said he started the initiative to "make a difference".
"There are so many people out there that are struggling at the moment and it seems to be getting worse - which is obvious by the numbers that are coming in and the numbers that are growing every year - but it's about giving back," he said.
The family, who donated 560 meals in 2024, have been helped by about 30 volunteers.
"There are all sorts of different people from all walks of life, which is great because it's a real community affair," Mr Gaskin said.
"People sit down and they talk and they chat and they get to know each other and that's what's great to see."
Mr Gaskin's wife Marta added: "It's very emotional when you look at the volunteers peeling veggies today and chatting away and creating friendships."
Meals are being delivered by 60 drivers to people across Surrey and further afield in Windsor, Maidenhead, and Aldershot.
People receiving a meal will also get Christmas crackers and a handmade card from a student at St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School in Guildford.
Miki, Mr Gaskin's son, said: "I don't think anyone knows truly how many people this helps and what an impact it has on their life.
"Not everyone has an opportunity to have a good Christmas so just to make it a little bit brighter makes it all worthwhile."
He said the family woke up at 02:30 GMT on Tuesday and 03:30 on Christmas Eve to help prepare the food.
"Being able to see the difference it makes and seeing people smile and come together, it makes it all worth while in an instant," he added.
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