BOLTON Rotary Club is considering changing its Christmas parcel scheme after it was found that some elderly recipients were not needy enough.

For more than 20 years, Rotarians have raised cash to provide food hampers at Christmas for local elderly people in need.

This year, several members of the club gave up their time to pack 180 boxes of goodies and distribute them around the town.

The exercise cost the club's community service committee £1,000.

But a debate about the scheme was sparked by past president, Peter Ward.

He had found that some of the elderly people he delivered to, while being glad of the company and someone to visit them, were not really in need of a food parcel.

Some were comfortably off, with close family support.

Writing in the club's newsletter, he questioned whether the parcels were "missing the target" and should be given to other people instead.

He added: "It seems quite wrong to spend our precious resources on supplying large boxes of groceries to those who do not need our charity. What we should be looking for is the desperately hungry and undernourished, the homeless, the deserted single parents and especially those living on low benefits with no capital."

Drink problem

In one case quoted, an old lady who was delivered a food parcel asked if it was all right if she passed it on to a young man nearby who had a drink problem!

Martin Quin, chairman of the club's community service committee, agrees that the system needs reviewing.

But, he says, in the past, they have depended on organisations like social services, doctors and churches to draw up lists of recipients. He added that appearances of a person's need can also be deceptive.

While some pensioners might not have needed their help, others undoubtedly do, especially single men who are finding it hard to cope on their own.

But he accepted that pensioners are probably better off than 20 years ago.

That was when the food parcel scheme first started and the committee will be considering later this year whether to alter it.

He said: "We must find a better system but it is not easy.

"We are always open to suggestions but I would think we will carry it on in some form or another."

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