Church’s hamper help for needy
THOUSANDS of people across Bristol will be getting a little added Christmas cheer - thanks to the work of a city church.
Volunteers and supporters of Carmel City Church in Brislington - including students from Carmel Christian School - have been busy packing up 1,700 Christmas hampers to donate to the needy this year.
The hampers, which contain ingredients to cook a meal, drinks, chocolate and crisps, are to donated to 22 organisations across the city who distribute them to those in need.
The hampers are given out to people including the elderly and families struggling to make ends meet during the festive period. Bags of goodies are also put together for people who are homeless. The church raises the funds each year for the hampers.
The project started in 1999, donating 50 hampers but has now grown to a point where 1700 have been put together this year.
And church leaders say that they expand demand to grow once again in 2019.
Each year since then it has grown and grown to this year giving away 1700 Christmas hampers.
Carmel City Church event co-ordinator Claire Parsons said: “Giving to those in need, especially at Christmas time is a priority of our church, as we all at Christmas remember it is more blessed to give than to receive.”