Kind Wigan businessman joins forces with churches to donate gifts and food this Christmas

Mike Creegan, who runs Expert Roofing and Guttering, decided to spend £5,000 providing presents and festive food for 50 families.

He was inundated with requests for help, both directly from struggling parents and through nominations from people such as teachers.

Mike, who lives in Whelley, said: “I did expect a big response but not as big as this.”

So he was delighted when St Barnabas’s Church in Marsh Green and Church Wigan suggested forming a partnership to help more people.

They had already been looking at ways to distribute food parcels through their seven hubs around the borough and read about Mike’s efforts in the Observer.

Ann Fairhurst, local missional leader for St Barnabas, said: “When I saw Mike’s article on the front of the Observer, I said to the group that there is a local man who wants to give hampers out to families as well. Instead of doubling up, we thought we would ask if we could partner up and they would do toys and we would do hampers.

“They said straight away it was a brilliant idea.”

More than 300 children will receive a Christmas gift from Mike, who has bought dolls, board games, pens, educational toys, books, building blocks, remote control cars, sports equipment, make-up, aftershave and much more.

Gemma Allen, who works in accounts at Expert Roofing, said: “We tried to tailor it for the child. There’s nothing worse than giving something that they don’t like.”

The food will come from the churches in an initiative called Hope In A Hamper and will be either a Christmas lunch or a smaller parcel of festive treats, such as mince pies or Christmas cake.

Initially they hoped to distribute 700 hampers - 100 from each of the seven hubs in Church Wigan - but this has now been expanded to 1,000.

Hundreds of angels are being knitted so one can be placed in each hamper.

The churches have received support from Stephenson’s Solicitors, Partners Foundation, My Dad Had One Of Those and Local Asbestos Services Ltd. They also work in partnership with Wigan Council and Fur Clemt.

The Reverend Rachel Sheehan said: “Everyone has been really supportive, not only from the church but the community as well. I think everyone recognises it’s been a really difficult year.”

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