A GROUP of caring teenagers have been able to provide food essentials and Christmas gifts to foodbank users in Redcar to help them out during the festive period.

New Generation has secured £2,000 of funding for its ‘Food 4 Thought @ Christmas’ project, which will distribute parcels to around 300 people in the town.

The Coast & Country Housing’s young person’s group, estimates that it will reach 40 single people and 64 families throughout the period.

Food 4 Thought @ Christmas, which is the idea of Chloe Pettite and Lacey Horton, both aged 17, and 19-year-old Sophie McCormick, secured the support from The Key, a North-East based social enterprise that runs a programme to help young people develop skills.

Chloe said: “Originally we wanted to help orphans in Romania, but after the SSI Steelworks closed down we were inspired to help people within our own community.

“As more people are affected by the job losses, the strain on services such as food banks increases, particularly in winter when many people are forced to choose between heating and eating.”

Ms McCormick said: “Christmas is supposed to be a time of happiness, togetherness and family. But for many people in the area, this Christmas will be spent worrying about whether they can afford to celebrate.

And Lacey added: “If we can help support them and lift their spirits so that they aren’t worrying where the next meal will come from and can enjoy Christmas, then Food4Thought @ Christmas will have been a success."