We all know Christmas is a time for good will and sharing, so what better way to spread some festive cheer than by donating food to those truly in need?
Local charity the Lincoln Community Larder is making an appeal to Lincolnshire residents for donations of food and money to help make up festive food parcels for people in crisis.
In November alone, the charity provided vital help for 46 children, and it would like to make the donations it gives over the Christmas week extra special. Its aim is to add a bar of chocolate or a bag of sweets for every child seeking one of their food parcels.
Kim Adams, trustee secretary of the Larder, explained the charity relied on generous donations from members of the public.
“We are a local charity, and we rely completely on volunteers and donations,” he said.
“At Christmas, it’s nice to be able to give something special along with the tins of baked beans and cereals used in our food parcels.
“We try and give staple foods to sustain somebody for three days, but everyone likes a treat at Christmas.
“Ideally, we are looking for donations for children, such as sweets, chocolate, and even Christmas puddings.”
Larder organiser Mick Duffield, 65, who lives in Waddington, said it was becoming increasingly difficult to include luxury items in food parcels.
“We would like to continue putting sweets and chocolates and other goodies in the parcels at Christmas, but having to pay for everything makes this almost impossible,” he said.
“We’re spending between £100 and £250 a week buying goods to keep our stocks up to date.
“We have to buy the basic foods and we cannot afford to buy ‘luxuries’.
“This is something we feel bad about because in the past we have been able to buy goodies such as mince pies and Christmas puddings.”
The Lincoln Community Larder is open two days a week at its premises in the YMCA Annexe in Rosemary Lane, Lincoln. Those seeking help bring vouchers for three days’ worth of food, which are exchanged for a mixture of dried and tinned food, plus bread, margarine and cheese.
The food parcels are designed to cover three nutritious meals a day for the three days.
The aim of the Larder is to help the recipient of the food parcel through a crisis in their lives, when they have nowhere else to turn. To qualify for a food parcel, a person needs to be referred by a local charity or agency such as Citizens’ Advice, the YMCA, or social services.
There are many ways to donate. Items can be dropped into the premises, or cheques can be sent, payable to the LCL, by care of the Lincoln YMCA. For more details, call (01522) 569291 and leave a message with contact details.
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