ANDOVER Foodbank has begun packing its festive hampers but is still urgently in need of items to help fulfil the record number of requests received this year.

The charity aims to distribute 1,200 hampers to bring festive cheer to local families struggling this Christmas.

Head of the foodbank Chloe Roberts said: “We want to thank everyone who has donated so far or volunteered their time for packing, driving and supermarket collections. We had a wonderful response to our appeal. Our hall is full of food and busy volunteers who are checking and organising the bags, ready to be delivered. The energy and enthusiasm from everyone involved has been wonderful.”

READ MORE: Help Andover Foodbank to help families in crisis enjoy Christmas

Andover Advertiser: Andover Foodbank volunteers were at Asda collecting donationsVolunteers from the charity also ran an emergency collection for hamper items at Asda over the weekend and were thrilled with the response. They collected around 800kg of items, some of which have already been delivered to partner agencies to gift to their clients.

Chloe continued: “Despite receiving so much support, now we have started to pack, we have realised we still do not have enough to fulfil all the requests from local schools and agencies.  We are already low on items such as boxes of biscuits, Christmas puddings and coffee which we use in every hamper.”

The charity is asking individuals, businesses and community groups to spread a little festive cheer to make Christmas possible for others this festive season. Donations of seasonal goodies such as tinned ham, Christmas pudding and chocolates could make all the difference in a year which has been challenging for so many.

SEE ALSO: Little hands make a world of difference with donations to Andover Foodbank

Gifted items need to be delivered to the foodbank by Monday, November  27.

The organisation has already managed to fill more than 1,000 shoeboxes with gifts for children of all ages in the Andover area.

To take part, simply choose a range of items from the publicised list and drop them into the foodbank based at St John the Baptist Church in Alexandra Road or at the convenient collection points in supermarkets around town. 

The list of items and further information on Andover Foodbank can be found at trusselltrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-food.