MIKE AMOS painted a gloomy picture of Shildon with its fast food takeaways (Echo, Nov 6), but he didn’t mention the kind-hearted people of the town.
He mentioned the Co-operative funeral care, but not that over the years the branch has helped numerous charities, thanks to the generous residents of Shildon.
Young people, elderly people, disabled people and animals have all benefited, the most recent being the beautiful hand-knitted poppies for the British Legion and the personal hygiene collection for the homeless and poor in our area.
Both causes were well supported.
There are ongoing collections for used spectacles for the third world (7,000 pairs have been donated since 2007) and food and bedding for local animal sanctuaries.
Coming up is the Kisses for Christmas appeal, to ensure poor people and children have presents for Christmas and the yearly memorial Christmas tree on which people can hang tributes to their late loved ones.
Every Easter, dozens of chocolate eggs are donated for needy children and young disabled people.
Shildon may have lost its last bank and our last supermarket is closing soon, but the kind people who live here deserve some praise for their unfailing support of charities.
Ruth Laycock, Shildon
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