Our second Christmas project has now been successfully completed. More than 1100 Christmas hampers full of Christmas treats have been delivered to agencies ready for them to distribute to the individuals and families they identified who would most benefit from the extra support. The hampers include items such as mince pies and custard, hot chocolate and marshmallows, and cheese biscuits & pickle.
These hampers will make an enormous difference this Christmas, alleviating financial pressures and allowing people to celebrate the Christmas period rather than exist through it.
The project has been a mammoth logistical challenge. Individuals, groups, Churches and companies made very generous donations but the foodbank also had to spend donated funds to purchase items for a significant number of hampers. The foodbank also collected donations at Tesco Extra Andover Winter Food Collections where they were joined by helpers from a number of schools including the wonderful choir from Vigo Road Primary.
Over the last week a variety of individuals, groups and companies have volunteered to sort and make up hampers, and then deliver them to agencies and schools. Volunteers from Andover College and others are shown having fun packing above.
We will be asking for detailed feedback from clients via agencies and schools to inform our plans for 2025.
Like gift boxes, this project is about our community joining together to help those in need within our community. Thank you to everyone who contributed donations or their time to make this project a success.