Santa has been very generous and provided numerous presents for the people of York to pick up from the Holy Redeemer Church. Items included brand new lego sets, massive dolls house, child bicycles, to name just a few. Fresh veg, fruit, tinned foods, chocolates, minced pies and other items to put up on a Christmas table were also available.

Take only what you and your family requires and leave some for others - Tracey

The project evolved from Tracey's independent venture, when in response to local need, at the start of the first lockdown she set up a food bank on her own driveway. Number of months later a strong partnership with the local church is flourishing and distribution of food and other items to people in need is now running from the church premises.

Being who we are we could not give this opportunity a miss and responded with a 'YES!' to Tracy's request for volunteers.

David arrived ahead of time and was rewarded with an extra briefing. Once Leanne, Michal, Jackie and Simon arrived a second briefing was held. All volunteers have been given a flashing badge, just so Tracy could tell us as volunteers. Following the briefing Jackie and David went to sort the remaining presents while Leanne employed her skills to draw a one way system map on a chalkboard provided. Simon and Michal were asked to bring the Christmas tree to the hall. Fortunately the tree was only about 6ft tall, however it's decorations, a selection of noodle soup pots, porridge sachets, chocolate bars kept falling off while the tree was being carried. With the tree at its desired location Michal and Simon went outside to be briefed by Beki, the Churchwarden, about the queue arrangments. The space outside looked like a football practice was about to take place, however it was just carefully arranged markers for the queue.

With Simon at the sign in station, Michal outside in readiness to manage the queue, Jackie, Leanne and David ready to keep tables stocked up we were good to go and opened the door.

Thanks to publicity on social media and York Press the event was really well attended. The first 30min was the busiest, with more and more people arriving and joining the queue. However the number of newcomers gradyally slowed down and just before 1pm there was no queue at all.

At 1pm Michal, Jackie and Leanne had to go and said their good byes. David went to take a break at home, before coming back later to help with tidying up. Simon made it a day trip today and stayed for the whole thing. He was later joined by Pete, who came to help with putting things away. David came back too and the GoodGym trio folded tables, packed unclaimed presents and put the church hall back in order.

Just after 3pm everything was clean and tidy and everyone on their home.