Operation Easter Egg succesful

Pocklington Rugby In The Community followed up its successful Christmas lunch delivery programme by reaching out to even more people, young and old, over the Easter weekend - carrying out its own surprise 'Operation Easter Egg' that saw it give out more than three thousand chocolate eggs to the local community.

The charity had home delivered over 200 festive meals to local residents before Christmas; and the same individuals all received an Easter egg and card at the weekend. In addition Pocklington Rugby In The Community (PRITC) reached out to hundreds more via local organisations.

After making the egg deliveries to individual households, further quantities were taken out to junior sports clubs, residential homes, and local volunteers and staff who have supported the community throughout the pandemic. The recipients included residents of Woldhaven and Sherbutt House, Young People Count, Pocklington Group Practice, junior football teams at Pocklington and Barmby Moor, and community initiatives at Holme on Spalding Moor, Barmby Moor, Bielby and Melbourne; while more are to be distributed through junior sport at the tennis, cricket and rugby clubs.

In all PRITC collected more than 3,000 chocolate items from mini and cream eggs to KitKat bunnies.. The charity's own funds were augmented by support from Power Health Products Ltd  and The HEY Smile Foundation, who also arrranged a generous donation of goodies from NISA Retail.

Supervising the Easter roll out of eggs from the rugby clubhouse in Burnby Lane, PRITC chairman, Andy Bowden, said: 'The charity aims to support the local community and groups, including encouraging healthy activity and social interaction for young and old. Our Easter egg delivery was generously supported and once again proved really well received, and we continue to plan for future events and ways to help people locally."

The charity received numerous thank yous for their efforts from across the age range. Barmby Moor Football Club sent a photo of their Under 8 players celebratingwith their eggs along with the message: "A big thank you to Pocklington Rugby In The Community,NISA Retail and The HEY Smile Foundation for the Easter eggs donation to Barmby Moor Junior football club."; while a senior citizen from Everingham reported she was: 'really touched that two nice young men from the rugby club delivered an Easter egg to me'.