PEOPLE in Hanham and Longwell Green are being urged to join a project that aims to distribute 1,000 hampers and hundreds of gifts across Bristol and the surrounding area this Christmas.
Operation Community Hamper aims to provide some cheer for families in need by offering them high quality food and some of the seasonal treats that better-off folk take for granted.
The charity began on social media during the pandemic and is now supported by many individuals and organisations, including Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Bristol Rovers, Robins Foundation and First Bus.
The project increased rapidly during the cost-of-living crisis. In its first year, Operation Community Hamper, as it was then called, delivered 19 hampers; it is aiming for 1,000, to be distributed across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and beyond. The project has expanded to include bespoke Christmas gifts and in 2024 the intention is also to provide blankets.
Donations for the hampers are being collected at a host of drop-off points, including Simpsons solicitors in Kingswood. More details can be found on the charity’s website www.operationcommunityhamper.co.uk
Supporters also raise funds for the charity and this year they are running a Santa Bus, which will be in Kingswood, Downend, Staple Hill and Fishponds on Tuesday December 10 and Hanham and Longwell Green on Thursday December 12 (both 6-8pm).
OCH will be at the Memorial Stadium on December 7 taking donations at the Bristol Rovers v Bolton Wanderers match and the Santa Bus will be at Ashton Gate on December 14 to receive donations at Bristol City v QPR.
Ken Major, from Kingswood, one of the charity’s volunteers, said support from businesses and from the community was vital.
“Our focus is on helping people in the community and without the community itself, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. After all, it is the community who donate items for the hampers, provide us with the information for referrals to make the hampers. They also give away their time to help throughout the year,” he said.