HAMPERS containing enough food and Christmas goodies to last 1,000 people for three days are set to be delivered to the door of families in crisis this festive season.
Citygate Church is on track to deliver 200 hampers on Wednesday, December 23, thanks to a fleet of 70 drivers.
Each parcel will also contain a toy voucher, along with a message of hope from the Bible.
The Bournemouth church is appealing for more partners to help them to deliver this year's Christmas Hamper Appeal.
Project leader Ed Briggs said: “We are so grateful to the local agencies, charities, businesses and community groups who are busy right now nominating families, pledging food, recruiting drivers or sponsoring hampers, but we would love some more to join with us to help those families suffering most over Christmas.”
One of the appeals major partners is Bournemouth Foodbank, who have worked with Citygate to deliver the hampers for four years.
Debbie Coombes, project director, added: “Citygate Church opened their community hub in April, at the start of the Covid crisis.
"Since then they have fed over 2,000 people and supported many people in crisis with signposting and advice. We are delighted to work with them on the Hamper project again this year. It is a huge help to our clients all over Bournemouth.”
The Citygate Community Hub provides a Covid-19 secure drop-in six days a week for foodbank clients and others in crisis.
Lenford, a recent visitor of the hub received support from the volunteer team who gave him a food parcel and helped him register with a GP so he could receive his prescribed medication.
He said: “This place is beautiful. This place is a godsend. I’m ex-military. I used to have it all. When I came here I had nothing. I did give up. When I met you all, you said, ‘Come, we’re going to help you.’”
Groups and individuals who are interested in supporting the hamper appeal should visit citygate.church/hampers.
