Volunteers have once again come together this December to source, pack and deliver 530 Christmas hampers full of food to families in the Southport area during the festive season.
It has been fantastic work today by the Southport Lions, local farmers, local volunteers and everyone else involved in this annual appeal, which has grown substantially in recent years.
A small army of people has been working together at Southport Synagogue, bringing festive cheer to families who need it in the Southport area from Banks down to Formby.
Farms from across the Southport and West Lancashire area have donated huge supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables including carrots and potatoes while other goods have been bought from local food outlet Bookers.
This annual Christmas Hamper Appeal is supported by donations made to Southport Lions; by money raised through their shop in Ainsdale; by fundraising events they hold throughout the year.
Referrals come from the Lions working with a number of local partner organisations.
Items within the hampers include mince pies, baked beans, Fray Bentos pies, tinned ham, tuna, pasta, rice, teabags, coffee, sugar, biscuits, potatoes, carrots, freshfruit, jam, porridge, tangerines and apples.
Geoff Ryan from Southport Lions said: “This has all been made possible thanks to donations through our Lions shop in Ainsdale, along with other support throughout the year.
“We are grateful to have been joined by volunteers from a number of organisations in Southport including Southport College and others.
“We have had huge support from a number of local farms, many of whom have been involved with this appeal for many years.
“Altogether, we are sending out 530 Christmas hampers to local families this year.
“Any items we have left over we always donate to Southport Soup Kitchen and to Southport Foodbank, so there is never any waste.
“This means such a massive difference to so many families in the Southport area, who won’t have to worry about food this Christmas.
“These are hard times for a lot of people.
“Southport Lions Club has been going since 1962, I think they began this Christmas Hamper Appeal not long after they started.
“I have been a member for the past 25 years. We used to pack and deliver 70 to 80 hampers back then – now it’s well over 500.
“It shows the challenges that families are facing and why they need support.
“This initiative is all about community, and supporting local people.
“Southport Synagogue has been very welcoming, they have been very kind in hosting us once again, as they do with many other local community groups.
“At one house we delivered to, a boy was on the doorstep when we knocked on the door – he cried when he saw what we’d brought to him and his family.
“Kindness means a lot to people at Christmas.”
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