Wakefield Christmas Hamper Appeal enjoys support from the whole community

The appeal, now in its 12th year in this format, is organised by Chantry Rotary Club in Wakefield and the Community Awareness Programme (CAP) in Market Street. It is supported annually by the Wakefield Express with the finished hampers being distributed to those in most need by the Children First organisation through their centres in Hemsworth, Castleford, Normanton, Featherstone and Wakefield.

Hampers are also distributed through some local schools where the need is identified.

The success of the appeal is purely down to the support that the organisers get from you, the Express readers, as well as local groups who come together to make and donate finished hampers.

We heard of one neighbourhood group this week which is collecting and packing up to 15 hampers for the appeal. The pictures included in this article show group members preparing the hampers.

Jill Brookling said: “We love to support Chantry Rotary and Kevin at CAP as we recognise the impact their work has on so many communities across our area.”

All donations are needed at CAP in Market Street by Friday, November 20 at the latest please.

CAP centre manager Kevin Dobson will be really pleased to see you and will take the hampers in to be included in the distribution or if you prefer to give any financial donations these will be ring fenced for the appeal.

For those of our readers who want to donate finished hampers a list of the food that should be included is detailed below. Please do not include any alcohol or any fresh, chilled or frozen goods.

Hampers should include tea/coffee, sugar, long life milk, breakfast cereals, tinned potatoes or instant mash, a small selection of tinned vegetables, stuffing, tinned meat, pasta or rice, pasta in sauce, cup soups, gravy mix, tinned fruit, juice or squash, jams, biscuits, children’s Christmas sweets and a box of chocolates. Food can also be dropped off at The Redoubt in Wakefield.