A NORTH-east charity celebrated its third birthday and raised over £50,000 at its first ever gathering this month.
AberNecessities provides basic essentials, including nappies, formula milk and clothing, to struggling families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. To celebrate its third birthday, the charity held its first fundraising ball on October 1st, attracting over 200 supporters, at the new city centre venue, Union Kirk.
Having been established in 2019, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic, the celebration was the first large fundraising event held by the charity. Sponsored by Stork, a Fluor company, the birthday-themed evening included performances by the Aberdeen Student Show, which has supported the charity since its inception.
Founder Danielle Flecher-Herd said: “There was an atmosphere of friendship in the room from the first moment, representing the joy we all felt at being able to come together with our incredible volunteers and supporters for the very first time. It has been a challenging three years, during which we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the businesses and people in our community.
“Nobody knew what lay ahead when we started AberNecessities, and the pandemic, followed by the current cost of living crisis has meant that our services are becoming increasingly vital. It was important to gather together with those who have sponsored, us and donated money, items or time, to celebrate what we can do as a community.”
Stanley Okosodo, CSR Team Lead at sponsor Stork, a Fluor company, said: “We are incredibly proud to be headline sponsors of this year’s event. AberNecessities has been one of our nominated charities for just over eight months now. We’re very supportive of the crucial work it does on a daily basis, which directly gives back to the local community and provides support to underprivileged families in and around Aberdeen. Happy Birthday AberNecessities – fantastic fundraising achievement!”
During the evening, Ms Flecher-Herd reminded guests that not every child in Aberdeen city and shire can reach for their potential, with many families unable to feed or clothe their children, or provide a bed to sleep in. She thanked the charity’s private and corporate benefactors for their generosity, and shared stories of families whose lives had been turned around thanks to support from AberNecessities.
Co-founder Michelle Herd added: “We know that every individual and every business in the city and shire is affected by the frightening rise in the cost of living, and therefore we welcome every minute volunteered, every toy donated and every pound raised.
“We are so proud of what we have achieved at AberNecessities over the last three years. We are a small but dedicated team, yet thanks to the generosity of our community, we have been able to support over 8,000 babies and children in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.”
Working with local professionals and healthcare workers, AberNecessities provides maternity bundles for mother and baby, nappies, formula milk, clothing, toys, and equipment for children aged 0-18 years. For more information, visit www.abernecessities.co.uk.
