Collection starts for food hampers

Volunteers expect they will need 600-700 food hampers for people in need on the Redcliffe Peninsula this Christmas, up from about 500 last year.

The Redcliffe Community Care Network 2024 Christmas Appeal has been launched this week, combining the efforts of many community groups and services to help those doing it tough.

The Breakfast Club Redcliffe is part of the network and one of the organisations accepting donations of non-perishable food items, toys and Christmas items.

Spokeswoman Michelle Gilchrist says the hampers are not just a treat for people at Christmas, they aim to get people through the two-week period when many services and avenues for support close.

“The hampers include basic food items with a little bit of Christmas sprinkled on top,” she explains.

Michelle says the appeal is an easy way for the community to get involved and support people doing it tough. They can donate items on the wishlist, or money so volunteers can buy what is needed.

“There’s a lot more people just struggling to get food on the table, so they’re using our services and other services around,” she says.

“It’s hard for people, at the moment, to pay the rent and buy food. It is going to be a very hard Christmas, but we want to make it bit easier for as many people as we can in the area.”

Volunteers are needed for six hamper packing days in November, with about 15 required each day. People wanting to help can register and nominate a time using Eventbrite.

People in need of a hamper can register via Eventbrite in mid-November and book a time to collect their hamper on December 16 and 17.

The hampers will only be available to people living on the Redcliffe Peninsula (postcodes 4019, 4020, 4021 and 4022). People not living on the Peninsula will be directed to other services.

To find out more, follow Redcliffe Community Care Network on Facebook.

The Redcliffe Community Care Network is made up of organisations including The Breakfast Club Redcliffe, Redcliffe Mums, Redcliffe Uniting Church, The Salvation Army, encircle, Band of Brothers QLD, Beef Bank, Emerge Church, Peace Community Church, Fringe Church, Queensland Police Service and Moreton Bay City Councillors Karl Winchester and Sandra Ruck.

Hamper items to donate

Non-perishable food:

• Baked beans/spaghetti
• Pancake mix
• Jam/spread
• Tinned soup
• Custard 1L
• Biscuits/crackers
• Cereal (740g)
• UHT milk 1L
• Pasta
• Rice
• Noodles
• Pasta sauce
• Tinned fruit
• Tinned vegetables
• Tinned tuna/spam/ham
• Pasta and sauce pack
• Sugar
• Jelly
• Tea/coffee
• Juice/cordial 1L

Christmas items:

• Fruit mince pies
• Puddings
• Cakes
• Lollies
• Wrapping paper and decorations

Toys:

(For boys and girls – babies to teenagers. Must be dropped off at The Salvation Army Redcliffe)

• LEGO (eight years +)
• DIY kits and craft kits
• Board games, puzzles games (eight years +)
• Escape room board games
• Outdoor items (balls, scooters etc)

Deliver donations before December 11 to:

• The Breakfast Club, 34 Cornelius St, Clontarf, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-1.30pm. Phone 0467 811 380.
• The Salvation Army, 64 Ashmole Rd, Kippa-Ring, on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am-noon. Phone 3880 1111.
• Redcliffe Uniting Church, 1 Richens St, Redcliffe, Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm. Phone 0417 706 304.