'TIS the season at Andover Foodbank as the organisation launches its Christmas projects to support children and families in need this December, and here is how you can get involved.
The Andover foodbank is asking for donations to support local people in need this Christmas.
Throughout the festive season, the foodbank will be distributing gift boxes to children and hampers of Christmas food to individuals and families.
Secretary Annie Mihell explained that gift boxes and hampers help to alleviate the many financial pressures and allow people to celebrate Christmas rather than exist through it.
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After receiving gift boxes last year, one mother said: "It took the stress out of Christmas a bit.
"The kids loved their items," while another family spoke of how the foodbank helped to lifet a huge weight off their shoulders.
In 2023, the foodbank distributed 968 hampers and 1247 children’s gift boxes to families supported by local agencies and schools including Children’s Services, Finding Freedom and Andover Young Carers.
The foodbank was able to distribute hampers and gift boxes because of the generosity of local individuals, companies, clubs and schools, and a fantastic team of volunteers who worked hard to sort out the boxes and hampers.
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Readers can find out more about the projects at the foodbank's website.
For gift boxes, there is an information sheet and gift box leaflet which has labels and lots of ideas for gifts.
All items must be new and unused, sweets must have a use-by date on each individual packet (loose sweets or packets from multipacks without a date cannot be distributed), and free items such as toys from restaurants and toiletries such as basic toothbrushes or soap should not be included.
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The foodbank distributes these toiletries separately.
To donate a hamper you can complete 12 Days to Christmas. There are 12 dates on which you add 12 items to your hamper or bag for life starting on November 1.
You can follow 12 Days to Christmas on Facebook and Instagram adding items on specific days or do your shopping in one go.
You can also donate online £15 helps the foodbank produce an exciting box of gifts and £30 a bag full of Christmas food.
Gift boxes must be delivered to the foodbank by Friday, November 8. This guarantees that care workers have time to discreetly deliver the gift boxes to families in time for Christmas. Hampers must be delivered by Sunday, November 24.
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