Foodbank launches Christmas campaign

Hamilton Combined Christian Foodbank has started a campaign to fill foodbank shelves ahead of an expected Christmas demand.

Needy Hamilton families, already stretched to put food on their tables, will be pleased to receive something special in Christmas food parcels.

Collection boxes have been placed in the six Hamilton City libraries in an appeal the whole community can take part in.

As well as non-perishable items - canned food, dried food (noodles, rice and pasta), milk powder, cereals, tea and coffee, soap powder etc - food bank volunteers say it would be great to be able to put a little treat in each parcel.

Congregations are joining the campaign and people are picking up brown paper bags from their churches and filling them with donated food and returning them for collection.

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Sandy Turner is also organising a food collection. This runs 12.30-1.30pm in Garden Place from December 17 to 22 when choirs will be performing.