Donate a Christmas Hamper - Cambridge City Foodbank Hamper Appeal 2024

Christmas can be a tough time of year, and many households in Cambridge are struggling with the cost of essentials. By donating a hamper, you can make a huge difference to a household in Cambridge this Christmas. Due to growing need, we’re aiming to break our previous record of 900 hampers pledged by the public. This year we will also be providing smaller hampers for individuals and for those who don't necessarily require all the essential food items. You can make your choice of hamper when selecting your ticket type. Please note that you do not need to bring a printed or digital ticket with you when you drop off your hamper.

To donate a standard hamper, get a strong carrier bag and fill it with the following items:

• Chocolate Christmas log or non alcoholic Christmas cake
• Children’s Christmas chocolate e.g. selection box
• After dinner/adult chocolate (no alcohol filled ones please)
• Fancy sweet biscuits
• Pringles or similar
• Cheesy/savoury biscuits or similar
• Nuts (not with shells)
• Dried fruit (e.g. apricots, figs etc)
• Tinned ham
• Tinned tuna/salmon
• Sweet pickles/chutney
• Jam
• Shower gel, hand soap or shampoo

To donate a small hamper, get a carrier bag and fill it with the following items:

• Children’s Christmas chocolate e.g. selection box OR
• After dinner/adult chocolate (no alcohol filled ones please)
• Fancy sweet biscuits
• Pringles or similar
• Cheesy/savoury biscuits or similar (small packet)
• Nuts (not with shells) (small and salted if possible)
• Small sweets packet (e.g. Christmassy Haribo)
• Shower gel, hand soap or shampoo

Select your drop off day above.

Please drop off hampers to Robinson House, Cambridge Business Park, Cowley Park, Cambridge, CB4 0WZ on:

• Sunday 8th December, from 2pm until 7pm

• Wednesday 11th December, from 2pm until 7pm

Please do not donate a hamper without signing up, so that we can plan to receive, store and distribute your donation.

Please ensure that:

• all items fit in one bag (the extra strong supermarket bags are ideal).
• there are no perishables in the bag and that all items have a use by date of 25th December or later.
• there are no home-made items.

We distribute hampers that are appropriate for a range of dietary requirements. If you would like to, please sign up to donate a special diet hamper to help us ensure that everyone who needs a hamper can have one. You can do so when selecting your ticket type, where you'll also see an alternative list of items to include.

Every year Cambridge City Foodbank, in partnership with Cambridge Sustainable Food and Cambridge City Council, gives Christmas treats, household essentials, fresh fruit and veg and Christmas toys to households in need across Cambridge. The winter months can be a particularly tough time for people who are struggling financially, but together we can join together and make Christmas a bit brighter for those going without the essentials. This year, with the need for foodbanks growing steadily in Cambridge, the impact of our hamper appeal will be even greater.

We ask members of the public like you to put together a Christmas hamper that contains Christmas treats and some essentials that will last until the big day, and our partner agencies help us distribute them to people in Cambridge who are going without the basics. Cambridge Sustainable Food takes care of the fresh vegetables that are given to households in need shortly before Christmas, and the City Council arranges for toys to be distributed to families with children.

If you are unable to donate a hamper but would like to support Cambridge City Foodbank's hamper appeal with a donation, you can do so on our website.

Donate a toy

We aim to include a gift in each food package. In most cases this will be a game, but we’ll send something else appropriate for families with younger children. If you would like to donate a toy to a family who are struggling financially please see lists at John Lewis and Partners and Lighthouse Toys. Feel free to use other suppliers if you prefer – please buy family games or non-gendered items suitable for toddlers.

We also accept gifts from people who want to choose something themselves.

Send or deliver your gifts to Brownfield Community Centre, 31A Green End Road, Cambridge, CB4 1RU. Free delivery to this address is available from Lighthouse Toys. Gifts can be dropped off at the following places in opening hours:

- NatWest bank at 21 Petty Cury, CB2 3NE between Monday and Saturday.

- Brownfield, The Meadows or Clay Farm Community Centres.

Do not bring or send donated toys to Robinson House.

If you are unable to donate a hamper but would like to support Cambridge City Foodbank's hamper appeal with a donation, you can do so on our website.

Donate to fund vegetable bags

To help spread kindness, joy, and nourishment this winter Cambridge Sustainable Food will be putting together vegetable bags so families can enjoy a Christmas dinner together. To support the creation and delivery of these vegetable bags and help us continue distributing food through the new year, please consider donating here.

Host or Publisher Cambridge City Food Bank