This week, Nourish Community Foodbank is launching its Community Christmas Campaign 2023. Mindful of the cost-of-living crisis having an impact on many people’s household budgets, it is asking people to just ‘do what they can’ to help people in food poverty this Christmas. Traditionally, the charity sees a spike in demand for food over the festive period, but this year Nourish has only received a third of its usual food donations, so it desperately needs more.
The popular ‘12 Days of Christmas’ campaign starts on December 1, and this year the charity is asking people to only buy as many items as they can afford – up to 12 items across the first 12 days of December. The list includes essentials such as tinned foods, squash, tea bags, household items and toiletries, alongside small Christmas treats, which make a real difference to families who cannot afford any special extras. The full list can be found @nourishcommunityfoodbank on Facebook or Instagram or at: nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk
Dawn Stanford, Operations Director at Nourish told the Times: “Christmas is going to be really tough this year for more local residents than ever before. Nourish remains committed to ensuring that nobody should go hungry in our community, but this year, above all others, we really need some help to make sure that happens. We are all feeling the pinch and I appreciate it’s a difficult time at the moment, but if you can just spare enough for an extra tin of soup or bag of chocolate coins, when you are doing your weekly shop, it will make a huge difference to someone in crisis.”
Once again, the Round Table’s magical illuminated sleigh, which you may have already seen at The Big Reveal, will be transporting Santa to visit various roads in Tunbridge Wells from December 10-17 and is collecting food donations on behalf of Nourish. This is the fourth year the Round Table has supported Santa in collecting food and has collected over 15 tons of food over the last three years. The scheduled sleigh routes will be published soon at rtwrt.org/santa-sleigh.
Ken Fry, Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Round Table said: “The Round Table is delighted to be supporting Santa and his elves with a door-to-door food collection for Nourish. Nourish does an awesome job for the town and their services are needed more than ever now. We are very grateful to the incredibly generous people of Tunbridge Wells who have supported us over the last few years with their food donations.”
Supporters can drop donations for the 12 Days of Christmas campaign at the Town & Country Housing Group Foyer on Monson Way on Saturday December 16 from 10am-1pm, or directly to the Nourish Warehouse at Unit 5, Kingstanding Way (opposite Bookers Cash & Carry) between 10am-4pm.
Alternatively, food can be donated any time at one of the charity’s food donation stations, which you can view on the Nourish Community Foodbank website.
Those who wish to make a financial donation can donate via text by typing e.g., FOOD £5 or FOOD £20 to 70085. This could help cover the costs of a Christmas dinner for a family in crisis this Christmas.
