The foodbank has now distributed 1067 gift boxes to local agencies and schools including Balksbury Primary School, Vigo Primary School, Finding Freedom and Andover Young Carers ready for care workers to pass them discretely to the families they identified as needing support this Christmas.
The gift boxes project is all about people in our community helping those in need within our community. Donors put considerable effort into their gift boxes, organise collections, give financially or volunteer to help with the sort out. The photos show two of our many donors delivering their gift boxes: Shona Thomson and a colleague from Stannah Stairlifts, and the team from the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, the hall ready for the sort out and our drivers Graham and Martin filling the van to deliver to Childrens Services. We are very grateful for all the support we receive.
Without these gift boxes some children in our local community would not have the excitement of opening presents and other families would struggle to buy presents or would incur debt. The gift boxes and food provided by the foodbank make it possible for families to celebrate Christmas rather than exist through it.
Care workers were delighted to receive the boxes and we will be asking for detailed feedback from them and clients on the boxes to understand their impact and shape our plans for next year.