Staffordshire Neighbourhood Illuminated by Charitable Christmas Display

A festive display in a Staffordshire neighborhood is bringing enjoyment to residents, following an extensive period of preparation. Tasha Quick and Elliot Smith, residents of Oxford Gardens in Stafford, annually adorn their home for both Halloween and Christmas, with the aim of collecting funds for charitable causes. The Christmas illumination display this year serves as a fundraising effort for Hearts and Hands, an organization that provides assistance to families residing in Stafford and its adjacent villages. To date this Christmas season, contributions exceeding £1,500 have been collected, supplementing the nearly £2,000 gathered during Halloween. The couple initiated the elaborate decoration effort three years prior, and it has since evolved into an annual seasonal custom. Mr Smith, a construction worker, stated that the installation of all the decorations required over a month’s time. He remarked, “As soon as Halloween comes down, Christmas starts going up.” He added, “We’ve gone a lot bigger this year, we’ve gone above and beyond. We’ve got a lot of sets of lights up.” Some of the decorative elements are crafted by Mr Smith personally, and for this year’s presentation, he incorporated a sleigh. The official illumination ceremony occurred on 30 November, featuring an event that encompassed both a tombola and a raffle. Explaining their decision to raise funds for Hearts and Hands, Mr Smith commented: “They are a local charity that provide support to low income working or retired people, people on zero-hour contracts, blue light workers and armed forces who are struggling with the cost of living and need a bit of help.” He further stated, “They are managed solely by volunteers and rely on donations.” BBC Stoke & Staffordshire can be found on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details concerning our external linking policy are provided.