Appeal for festive boxes to help families in need across Waveney
Sue Collins and Carole Hunt with some of the Christmas parcels that have been collected. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Volunteers at a local foodbank are running a Christmas appeal to help families put presents under the tree this year.
Waveney Foodbank is running a shoebox appeal for the second year to make sure children are not left without gifts on Christmas morning.
Organisers are asking for people to donate shoeboxes containing gifts, wrapping paper and blank gift tags suitable for babies and toddlers, pre-school, primary or secondary school children or over 16 year olds.
In the run up to December 25, the foodbank team will have 150 hampers containing fresh food and festive treats to give out to users of the Waveney Foodbank, at Eye Airfield Industrial Estate, Eye. And the shoeboxes will be given out to families alongside the hampers.
Sue Collins, volunteer co-ordinator for the Waveney Foodbank, said: “We’re aware of families that will be struggling over the Christmas period. It occurred to us in the branch, if people are in receipt of food then the chances of being able to give gifts to their children at Christmas is unlikely.
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“I think it’s particularly heartbreaking for parents to not be able to give at Christmas.
“This is a way of doing it that helps the families celebrate Christmas together. It enables people to be generous and to share which is what Christmas is about.”
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Donations are being collected at Moth Crafts in Upper Olland Street, Bungay, and the final deadline for shoeboxes to be handed in is December 13, when organisers will begin sorting the boxes and taking them to the storage warehouse in Diss.
Carole Hunt, Waveney Foodbank distribution organiser, said: “Everybody seems to want to give, if they have it they can give it.”
However, the team said they are still in need of many more boxes to match the number of families in need, with a particular need for boxes of gifts for teenagers and older boys.
Mrs Hunt and Ms Collins said they will continue running the collection for as long as there are families who need their help.
Waveney Foodbank provides emergency food and support to local people who are referred in crisis. For more information about the charity visit www.waveney.foodbank.org.uk
