Christmas at Slough Foodbank and how you can support us
Slough Foodbank is asking local people to help bring festive cheer to families struggling to eat this Christmas by donating festive food items to the food bank. For some families, the Christmas hampers given out alongside standard food parcels will be their only treat this Christmas.
Slough Foodbank is hoping to collect enough Christmas food to give every food bank client a hamper. In previous years we have seen families cry with joy at receiving just a simple parcel of food, with children’s faces lighting up at the prospect of a few treats.
Local people facing bleak times this Christmas will be given food hampers containing mince pies, puddings, chocolates and other festive treats alongside a standard emergency food & basic toiletry parcel. Slough Foodbank partners with frontline care professionals, such as health visitors, social workers and other community-based support workers, who are able to identify people in crisis and refer them to the food bank.
Laura Cole, Slough Foodbank Manager says: ‘Christmas is a very tough time to be hungry – it’s cold and it is heartbreaking to know you cannot give your children a Christmas treat when everyone else is celebrating. Hidden behind closed doors there are many Slough families with little to look forward to this Christmas, the good news is we can all help. We hope that the people of Slough will join our Christmas hamper campaign or take part in our Reverse advent calendar to give local people, with little to look forward to, a happier Christmas.’
Winter is the most difficult season for people on a low-income as finances are stretched to cover additional costs of heating.
This year we are launching our Christmas Appeal where, in addition to our standard food and basic toiletries parcel, we will also be providing clients with a Christmas hamper – bringing a little joy to people struggling in food poverty crisis this Christmas.
There are three ways in which you can support us this year.
- Buy items from our Christmas Shopping list for our Christmas hampers
- Do our Reverse advent calendar – purchasing items for our standard food & basic toiletry parcels and Christmas hampers
- Support us financially so we can buy the food we need
Christmas Shopping list
- Christmas Cakes
- Christmas Puddings
- Mince Pies
- Custard (500g carton)
- Sweet Biscuits
- Savoury Biscuits e.g. Ritz/Jacobs crackers
- Stuffing mix
- Crisps e.g. Pringles, twiglets
- Christmas Selection Boxes
- Chocolates/Sweets (Roses, Heroes)
Download our Christmas shopping list in PDF.
Small sizes are preferred. Please avoid alcohol in products. Best before dates end of December or longer.
Why not donate in store at our permanent collection points, at our warehouse or organise a shopping delivery to our warehouse. For details see: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-food/
Reverse advent calendar
From 1 – 24 November, you can donate our most needed items from our standard food & basic toiletry parcels, or items that help make up our Christmas hampers. Each day has a specific item to collect and put together, ready to be donated once the 24 days are over.
Download our Reverse Advent Calendar in PDF
Why November? We complete these calendars in November, to allow time for preparation of the Christmas hampers and distribution to clients throughout December.
Why not donate in store at our permanent collection points, at our warehouse or organise a shopping delivery to our warehouse. For details see: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-food/
Support us financially
Big or small, every gift you give helps transform lives.
Our foodbank is run by local people for local people – we rely on the community’s support to ensure we can continue to stop people going hungry.
Details on the various ways you can support Slough Foodbank financially are available here: