25 Dec 2023
After the success of last year, the Marshalswick Elf returned to the streets again this year, running 5K every morning around the area from December 1 to December 24.
Charity runner Anna Bassil was supporting St Albans Action for Homeless and the St Albans Community Pantry, raising awareness for their Reverse Advent Calendar, encouraging people to donate long-life food and hygiene items to be distributed to those that need them, all while spreading some festive cheer.
The idea of the Reverse Advent Calendar is that people donate a specified item from a list each day, either by creating a box of all 24 items themselves, or dropping individual items at a communal collection point, EYES On St Albans at The Quadrant.
Anna said: “It has been truly magical seeing the excitement on children’s faces when they see and hear me (I have lots of jingle bells on my rlf boots and hat!) but I have also had many smiles and waves from adults too. I do have to apologise to the teacher at Wheatfields School who had a whole classroom of excited children jumping up and down waving first thing on a Monday morning as they spotted me run past!!
“As well as running around the area, each day I move a “mini elf” with the item of the day on a card to a new location for people to seek out, posting the new location on the Marshalswick Elf Facebook group or @fancydress_runner Instagram page.
“I visited the Community Pantry [Unit 9, St Albans Enterprise Centre, Long Spring, Porters Wood, AL3 6EN, pictured above] and saw the great work the volunteers there do, collecting rescued food from local businesses, sorting and distributing to the community, via their Community Fridge and Food Aid projects and this week they have been hosting Festive Community Feasts.
“St Albans Action for Homeless supports the street homeless and those in temporary accommodation, providing hot meals, distributing essentials/toiletries and clothing to those in need and run Hope House, a supported living facility for up to four males who need help to stay free of addiction.
“I have to say a huge thanks to Jez Levy at EYES On St Albans for allowing us to take over his space, Sharon Linney at Action for Homeless for all her help getting supplies distributed, Adam Lennon at the Calling Cobbler for adapting a pair of elf slippers into running elf boots, all the volunteers at both charities and EVERYONE who had donated, waved, smiled, tooted, chatted and got behind The Marshalswick Elf this year.”
If anyone would like to make a monetary donation to either St Albans Action for Homeless or St Albans Community Pantry, they can do so via the following links:
