Hamper Scamper: Lighting up Christmas throughout the county

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THE county-based charity Caring for Communities & People (CCP) is aiming to light up someone’s Christmas with its annual Hamper Scamper appeal, which seeks to spread the spirit of Christmas and give hope by providing seasonal food parcels and children’s gifts to those in need.

Last year Hamper Scamper provided 1757 festive food hampers and over 2000 children’s gifts where people across Gloucestershire were struggling over the Christmas period.

The charity relies upon the generosity of the local community for donations of basic food items through to festive provisions, with the drive to spread some cheer to those less fortunate never more important, given the disruptions and adversities endured by so many throughout 2020 on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Many of those who will be receiving a hamper may be families living on the brink of homelessness and struggling to afford food and heating alongside the expectations of the festive season,” explains Liz Thatcher, Events Manager, CCP

“Others may be isolated adults and young people, with no friends or family to celebrate this special time of year with.”

The campaign has consistently made a positive difference over a number of years.

A mother who received a food parcel and gifts last Christmas thanked Hamper Scamper for its support, saying: “There haven’t been so many happy moments lately, so to see my daughter with a genuine smile on her face as my support worker explained to her that there are people out there who have never met her, but think she is so special that she deserves some special treats was just so emotional.

@What amazing people you are, I cannot thank you enough!”

The community can get involved with the appeal through various means and the charity has this year designed a Reverse Advent Calendar as a way for people to learn about Hamper Scamper and fundraise for those in need in the lead up to the festive season. For more

information, please visit www.ccp. org.uk/hamperscamper or follow @ Ccpcharity on social media.