We Can Do It Awards: Couple's festive efforts to support dozens of struggling families are recognised with Best Volunteer award

However, a kindhearted couple wanted to do what they could to make the festive season as special as possible by collecting thousands of donations for families in need.

Sophie and Dan Baker, from Waterlooville, have been awarded Best Volunteer in this year’s We Can Do It Awards by The News for the couple’s dedication to distributing gifts across the area.

Sophie set up the group PO Box Christmas Present Donation on Facebook, and through this platform they collected donations for 56 struggling families, giving 140 children a Christmas to remember.

After struggling with lack of work in her career as a photographer due to lockdown, Sophie wanted to help others who might have been feeling the pinch.

She said: ‘For us, it was something we did with absolutely no intention to be recognised for it.

‘It was something we felt we needed to do because we were so close to being one of those families. It just absolutely boggles my mind that it expanded to help so many people.’

People were asked to come forward so Sophie and Dan could coordinate an Amazon wishlist filled with presents the children were dreaming about opening, and donations flooded in until the pair’s kitchen was covered in parcels.

Sophie’s hard work and kind heart also landed her an Inspirational Woman of Portsmouth Award, which are held by Pamodzi Creatives to celebrate women throughout the Portsmouth area who have stood out within their fields over the last 12 months.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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