On Wednesday evening the magical sight of Santa’s sleigh brought some seasonal cheer to the streets of Chartham, all while raising much-needed funds for the air ambulance and tinned food for Canterbury Food Bank.
The heartwarming initiative was led by the Rotary Club of Canterbury Sunrise and supported by all three Canterbury Rotary Clubs. The evening saw a dedicated team of Rotarian collectors (aka Santa’s helpers and elves) accompanying Santa on his journey. As the sleigh made its musical way through the village, families lined the route, eager to greet Santa and also contribute their warmly-welcomed donations to the collection. The lovely smiles and enthusiastic waves from children and adults alike added to the festive atmosphere.
The sleigh drive, an annual favourite with many local families, highlights the spirit of community and brings it together in a shared act of kindness – so important during the holiday season. “One particularly touching moment,” said Rotarian Roger Hickman, who took part for the first time, “came towards the end of the evening when a kind-hearted family invited the team into their home.” After a chilly night of collecting, the Rotarians were treated to warm sausage rolls, delicious mince pies, and glasses of steaming mulled wine. “This thoughtful gesture was a perfect example of the goodwill and camaraderie that make this time of year so special,” said Roger.
Thanks to the generosity of Chartham residents, the evening was a resounding success and added to the success of earlier drives to Salisbury Road and Wincheap, where residents were also both welcoming and generous.
Of course, Santa’s work isn’t finished yet! His sleigh will continue to visit neighbourhoods in the area along various pre-planned routes over the next few days.
We encourage everyone to join in and help make a difference. Whether you’re donating food, giving a monetary contribution, or simply coming out to wave and support, your participation is what makes this initiative so impactful. Together, we can ensure that no family in our community goes without this Christmas, and we can help support the air ambulance in its important work.
Let’s keep the holiday spirit alive – support Santa’s sleigh and help spread joy to those who need it most!
Picture: Santa and his sleigh during the Chartham route. Picture credit: Roger Hickman/Rotary Club of Canterbury.
With thanks to Roger for drafting this article.
