THE headquarters of the Somerset Federation of Women’s Institutes (WI) has transformed into a distribution hub this weekend for around 500 Christmas parcels. 

WI members have descended on their headquarters in Bridgwater to sort the contents of the parcels. Each parcel has been lovingly crafted by members from Institutes across Somerset - of which there are 115. 

More than 500 parcels are packed with a selection of homemade knitted items, toiletries and sweet treats and will be distributed to people in need. Destinations for the gifts include residents at local YMCAs; Women’s Refuge; Arc, the Taunton-based homeless charity; and village agents across Somerset. 

Jo Stewart, who has been a driving force for the parcels, said: “The WI in Somerset have been doing this for around 12 years now. Myself and my husband do much of the delivering, driving to locations to drop off the parcels.”

Those in need in the Somerset area typically receive the parcels at Christmas time as a present, following delivery in the first week of December. WI members typically purchase additional items for the boxes, with some starting as early as January for the following festive season. Some items are also re-gifted. 

Another WI member, Andrea Lindley, reflected: “We’re putting something homemade in each box this year. People are so generous and the boxes we receive are all filled with items. We sort out the boxes so that if there is anything duplicate, we can put it in another box.”

Alice Beak, who spent over 21 years as an RSPCA volunteer, has been involved for many years. She said: “It was a much smaller process when we started it 12 years ago. Even through Covid, we continued to do this. It’s nice to give back, and a lot of the content has been knitted by our members.”

WI members helping this weekend include: Jo Stewart; Heather Blackmore; Audrey Cooksley; Katherine Spry; Andrea Lindley; Gail Wainwright; Carol Nayler; Alice Beak; and Hilary Tilley and Amelia.