A plea has gone out to donate to the Love Herts festive appeal and help a poor St Albans family this Christmas.

Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF), which is running the initiative, has asked for donations of £5 or more to help the district’s most vulnerable.

Alex Elmadhi from St Albans is one of those who has benefited already: “As a mum with five-year-old twins, I was facing relationship and financial difficulties, and struggling to make ends meet.

“When my fridge stopped working, I didn’t know how I would find the money to replace it. Fortunately my support worker referred me for a grant from HCF, which helped me buy a fridge.

“I was incredibly grateful for HCF’s help without which I don’t know what I would have done. Please give generously to the Love Herts appeal so that HCF can provide much needed support to other local families.”

HCF’s director Helen Gray said: “For many of us it is hard to imagine being in a situation where you simply cannot replace a basic household appliance such as a fridge, washing machine or oven.

“Yet for many low income families this is the reality.

“They suddenly find themselves unable to provide hot meals or clean clothes for their children.”

28,100 children help make up the 10 per cent of Hertfordshire’s population living in its most deprived areas.

Despite HCF providing over £15,000 in small grants to families in need in the county in 2016/17, they are still getting requests for help.

Last week, the Herts Advertiser publicised how HCF is also helping charities like the St Albans and District Foodbank over the holiday period.

Several families said the help of the foodbank saved Christmas for them and their children.

Sarah (a pseudonym), a St Albans mum and victim of domestic abuse, said: “I was struggling to make ends meet and a support worker gave me vouchers so I came to the St Albans and District Foodbank.

“I have used their services for over two years and they have done so much for me and my family. I don’t know where I would be without their help.”

If you would like to make a donation to help people visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/hertscf/lovehertsOr send a cheque payable to ‘Hertfordshire Community Foundation’ to Foundation House, 2-4 Forum Place, Fiddlebridge Lane, Hatfield Herts AL10 0RN.