Operation Community Hamper is building up towards Christmas with a big push in its campaign for support.
The organisation was established in 2020 by lifelong Gashead Charlotte Churchill, after she noticed the rise in families accessing food banks during the Covid pandemic. Operation Community Hamper (OCH) now operates on the back of recommendations from professional establishments (schools, social services, health professionals etc) who refer disadvantaged or vulnerable individuals and families for extra help.
OCH then provides a luxury hamper at Christmas, delivered to the recipients by the professional services themselves.
Originally conceived as Operation Christmas Hamper, the name was changed last July when its status changed from a CIC (Community Interest Company) to a registered charity and organisers realised that they were no longer helping people just at Christmas, but throughout the entire year.
There are various ways to donate towards the Christmas Hamper campaign, and the types of specific items they need include toiletry packs, food, washing powder, pet food and warm blankets.
The full list of drop-off points for the food hamper collection (spread across Bristol, Bath and North Somerset) can be found on both the Facebook page and OCH website and there is a food collection at the Memorial Stadium in the Fanzone from 12.30pm on Saturday 7 December.
More information about Operation Community Hamper can be found on their website at https://www.operationcommunityhamper.co.uk/
Or contact them directly at info@operationch.co.uk
FOODS TO DONATE
Savoury and miscellaneous treats: Pickles / chutneys, biscuits for cheese, crisps, Christmas table crackers, shower gels, deodorants, detergent tablets, toothbrushes, cat / dog food
Drinks: Tea, coffee, hot chocolate; squash, cordials, tea, coffee, latte / cappuccino sachets
Sweet treats: Chocolate tubs (Heroes / Roses / Quality Street etc…), jam, chocolate spread, honey, sweets, popcorn, marshmallows, Christmas puddings, mince pies, Yule log, biscuits
WAYS TO SUPPORT OCH:
Donate a food item for the Christmas food hampers
Help buy a present for a child at Christmas
Help send children out on enrichment activities throughout the year.
Organise a collection at your workplace
Join them via Facebook at 'Operation Community Hamper CIO'
Make a financial donation at https://www.justgiving.com/operationcommunityhamper
OPERATION COMMUNITY HAMPER DROP-OFF POINTS INCLUDE:
BS1
Davies Funeral Directors, 143 Church Road, Bishopsworth BS13 8JZ
Michelle Murphy @ Forward Fitness, Hengrove BS14 9BZ
Whitchurch & Pensford Royal British Legion, Staunton Lane, Whitchurch BS14 0QF
Andrew Tomlinson @ The Shield & Dagger pub, Whitchurch BS14 0LN
Kings’ Forest School, Station road, Kingswood BS15 4PQ
Simpson Solicitors, Unit 7, Kings Chase Shopping Centre, Kingswood BS15 8LP
HSBC, 79 Regent Street, Kingswood BS15 8LH
Staple Hill Primary School, Page Road BS16 4NE
Caroline Bartlett @ The Wooden Walls Micropub, Staple Hill BS16 5NU
BS2
The Victoria, 40 St James Street, St Werburgh’s BS2 9US
The Queen’s Arms, 1 Celtic Way, Bleadon, North Somerset BS24 ONF
BS3
Jemma Lewis @ The New Inn pub, Keynsham BS31 1HN
Simpson Solicitors, 12 The Plain, Thornbury BS35 2BE
Simpson Solicitors, 79 Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6AD
BS4
Simpson Solicitors, The Sion, Crown Glass Place, Nailsea BS48 1RB
BS6
Salvatores Barber Shop, 125 Coldharbour Road, Redland BS6 7SN
BS7
Becca Smith @ Royal Oak, Gloucester Road, Horfield BS7 8TR
Seat Unique Stadium, Nevil Road, Bristol, BS7 9EJ.
BS9
Simpson Solicitors, 14 High Street, Westbury-on-Trym BS9 3DU
GL
Gloucestershire Cricket Club County Ground GL1 1UY
