A Helping Hand this Christmas

Hamper Project poster

Many families on low incomes are feeling the squeeze of the rising cost-of-living, and Christmas can be a difficult time, with the expectation of extra expense, but often no extra money. A partnership of local organisations including: Burgess Hill Community Foodbank, Burgess Hill Town Council, Burgess Hill Youth and The King’s Church Mid-Sussex, have been working together to bring some Christmas cheer to those in need, this year. Financial support for the project was received from Burgess Hill Community Food Bank, Burgess Hill District Lions and Clarions Futures.

Volunteers for the Christmas Hamper Project have worked hard to pack 272 Christmas Hampers for those in critical financial need, in Burgess Hill; sorting through thousands of food items, to ensure that families won’t go hungry this Christmas.
The hampers were packaged by a band of volunteers, including staff from Cambridge Audio, Oliver Wyman and Canon, at The King’s Church, across two days, with help from pupils from local schools: Burgess Hill Academy and Downlands Community School. More volunteers then delivered the hampers to those in need, over the second weekend of December.

The Rapid Relief Team donated 49 additional boxes to the project, helping to ensure that any last-minute requests were fulfilled.

Staff from Burgess Hill Town Council went to Tesco, to pick up a large collection of items for the Christmas Hamper Project, and extend their thanks to the team there, for all their help.

Many local businesses contributed to the project, with donations from Steve Willis Training, Acora, Paper Plus, Travail Employment Group, Edwards Vacuum/ Atlas Corp and Bennett Christmas. A number of local schools also donated to the project, with food donations from Burgess Hill Girls, Burgess Hill Academy, Downlands Community School, and St Paul’s Catholic College. Thanks to the congregation at Gateway Baptist Church who provided donations for the project, and to Parkers Car and Truck Rental for their kind contribution of a van to transport food donations to the packing centre.

The Christmas Hamper Project has been a huge success this year, and the project will return in 2024.

A spokesperson from a local school said: “Thank you so much for organising this, the parents are really appreciative of the hampers. They have been extremely thankful that the children will not miss out and will be able to enjoy a few meals.”

Jackie Cooper, Chair of Burgess Hill Youth said: “Burgess Hill Youth was delighted to support the Hamper Project again this year. We are grateful for the donations made to the project by the young people, making our involvement truly inclusive and supporting our local community.”

Sharon Benefer, of Burgess Hill Community Foodbank, said: “Burgess Hill Community Foodbank is pleased to have been able to support the Christmas Hamper Project. We are very aware that there are many local families who are finding it tough in the cost-of-living crisis, and these hampers will bring some Christmas cheer to the recipients.”

If you have any questions, please do contact the Community Engagement Team on 01444 247726 or email communityteam@burgesshill.gov.uk