I WOULD like to express our thanks to all the people of High Wycombe and surrounding areas who very generously supported all our 2011 Christmas supermarket and float collections.

The overall total raised was just over £6,500 and, with a generous financial donation of £700 from High Wycombe Rotary Club and £700 from High Wycombe Round Table, we were able to distribute 356 food parcels to needy people in the Wycombe District Council area, including Marlow, Holmer Green, Tylers Green and Hazlemere. We are grateful to Thames Valley Police who assisted us in the delivery of the food parcels to those people who had been suffering as victims of crime.

Our thanks also go to Juniper Hill School who provided the location for making up the parcels on December 11 and to members of both High Wycombe Rotary and Round Table clubs who assisted us in placing over 7,500 items into 356 bags.

Donations will be made to eight charities that helped us with the float collections, but unfortunately we had to cancel one night due to the inclement weather. We would like to apologise to those residents in High Wycombe for not bringing our float out.

The local supermarkets – Tesco, Loudwater; Morrisons, High Wycombe; Marks & Spencer, Wycombe Marsh; and the Co-operative Store at Hazlemere – are to be thanked for allowing us to collect at their stores. Our thanks also go to Booker Cash and Carry for help with food supplies at a very busy time of year and Charles Morris, the company that supplied the towing vehicle for the float.

Thank you for your support this Christmas and throughout the past 12 months – your generosity enables us ‘ordinary’ people to do amazing things.

Lion Nick Barber, President, High Wycombe Lions Club