This year, Focus4Hope has seen a tremendous collective effort from local businesses, schools, statutory organisations, charities, and individuals, all coming together to deliver their vital Christmas Hamper project. Key contributors include McVities, who donated food, Tesco, who provided banana boxes, and Cliff Hill School and Lidl, who organized toy drives. The Cambridge Hotel Waterfront generously offered free space for packing, while HSBC, Sweco, and BAM sent volunteers to assist with the work. This is just some of the businesses that have helped this year; it has been a real effort from numerous charities, businesses and individuals helping some of the most vulnerable people in the Calderdale community. Numerous schools also collected food donations, and staff members worked tirelessly to assemble hampers. This united effort ensures that families across Calderdale receive the support they need during the festive season.
Nic from Focus4Hope expressed deep gratitude, saying,
” A massive thank you. It is a community project: the community came together to do this. Corporate volunteers have really supported us this year. It grows and grows each year and for the corporate volunteers, it’s people they wouldn’t normally meet so it can be shocking for them to see what we are doing and how many people are in need. This is alongside what we are already doing and we couldn’t do it without the volunteers. We want to give a special thank you to Gary. All volunteers have been amazing but we couldn’t do it without Gary’s help.”
Gary Stephenson has been instrumental in the project this year collecting over 500 banana boxes single-handedly whilst keeping positive, upbeat and driven to get the hard work completed.
The funding for Focus4Hope’s Christmas Hamper initiative has come from various sources, including Focus4Hope’s boutique, CFFC, and other generous donors. The total cost of the project is £10,000, along with donations of food, gifts, and monetary donations from the community, as well as time contributed by volunteers. The charity also promoted their Reverse Advent Calendar challenge as a project for people and businesses to complete throughout November by adding listed items to a hamper each day, which was well-received by both businesses and schools.
Volunteers and Focus4Hope staff have worked tirelessly to pack approximately 70 hampers each day, with over 500 hampers distributed to families and individuals in need during the Christmas period. Referrals for the hampers have come from schools, social services, and charities like Project Colt, HOTs, Forget Me Not, and Food For Families. Food has been donated through Harvest Festivals, Reverse Advent Calendars, McVities, and other generous contributions from local individuals and supermarkets.
Lindsey, Focus4Hope Crisis Intervention Support Worker, shared an emotional story about the impact of this project. Lindsey shared with us about instances where corporate volunteers have been moved to tears seeing what some families will be eating this Christmas.
“It’s not always about turkeys and trimmings; sometimes it’s the essentials like pasta and rice.”
These items are vital for families struggling to make ends meet during the holidays, and they truly make a difference.
Throughout November and December, local businesses, schools, and charities have continued to support Focus4Hope’s Big Christmas Project by volunteering their time to sort deliveries and wrap hampers in festive gift wrap.
Jake Silipo, a graduate from the Environment Agency currently on secondment with BAM, shared his experience volunteering with the charity:
” I thoroughly enjoyed my day volunteering at Focus4Hope; knowing I was helping a worthwhile charity for a great cause was very rewarding. The work that the charity does will go a long way to help so many people over the Christmas holiday season, and to know I could be a part of that meant a lot to me. I look forward to seeing more of the great work Focus4Hope does in the future.”
A member of staff from Sweco also reflected on their volunteering experience:
” I had a great day volunteering at Focus4Hope packing Christmas food boxes and donations for the local community and families in need this Christmas! Whilst it was a great start to the festive season with Christmas music playing, it was certainly an eye-opening experience hearing of all the wonderful and meaningful work Focus4Hope do for the local area.”
Lindsey from Focus4Hope, who has been coordinating volunteers for the Christmas project, added, “What can you say other than thank you. We couldn’t do it without our volunteers.”
One long-time Focus4Hope volunteer, Shaz, has faced her own medical challenges but continues to support the charity. Despite her limitations, Shaz has been involved in such roles as preparing reindeer dust, and ensuring each hamper includes crackers. Whilst preparing presents for children and parents, Shaz shared her thoughts:
“I want to be involved. I don’t want to sit at home when I know this is going on and they need some help.
If we didn’t do this, they may not get anything at all but this little girl is going to be so excited to have this doll, and this gorgeous bath set for her mum… I’m happy in my head to know I’ve done a bit to help.”
As the Christmas Hamper Project nears its conclusion, Focus4Hope will host a special meal for around 80 isolated seniors this Friday, offering them a festive dinner alongside the staff and volunteers who made the project possible.
Focus4Hope’s Christmas Hamper Project exemplifies the power of community, demonstrating how collective action can make a real difference in the lives of families and individuals in need this holiday season.
