Christmas food and toys packed for families in need

12 December 2025

Ellen Knightin Oswestry

News image — Laura Jones and Penny Hardy volunteer with the food bank

ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC Two women stood side by side, looking into the camera and smiling. Laura, on the left, is wearing a blue jumper with 'Tis The Season' written on it in white letters. Penny, on the right, is wearing a dark green knitted jumper. They're pictured indoors, stood in front of rows of tables stacked high with crates full of food, toys, and toiletries. — Laura Jones and Penny Hardy volunteer with the food bank

Hampers of toys and treats are being prepared by food bank volunteers for families in need this Christmas.

It comes after the Trussell Trust revealed that more than 61,000 emergency food parcels were delivered to people across the West Midlands, between December 2024 and February 2025.

The team at the trust's Oswestry and Borders food bank are putting together their packages - which include things like mince pies and boxes of chocolates - in time for the big day.

Christmas can be "such a stressful day" said volunteer Laura Jones, who hopes the hampers will help "relieve" some of the stress the families are under.

The hampers will provided for local families who are referred to the food bank by other agencies.

Ms Jones and Penny Hardy work for local business PracticePlan, which gives employees two days per year to spend volunteering in the community.

"[Christmas] can be an expensive time," Ms Jones said. "It does feel good to be able to support this initiative.

"I've got a little one myself," she said, adding she hopes the hampers will "help take a little bit of stress away".

ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC A close-up photograph of a green crate full of pre-packaged Christmas puddings, which have red cardboard packaging with white writing on. Out of focus, in the distance, there are more tables stacked with food like crackers and crisps. — The charity is packing up festive staples like Christmas puddings, as well as toys and toiletries

The trust has also said that last winter saw a 27% increase in demand for food parcels compared to pre-pandemic levels, including 22,000 parcels for children, which was 19% more than in 2019/2020.

Last winter alone, the charity said, over 6,400 families visited a Trussell food bank for the first time.

ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC Liz pictured looking into the camera and smiling. She's wearing a light green jumper, with a green Trussell Trust lanyard. She's stood inside in a large, bright room, with five rows of tables behind her. On the tables are crates filled with food - nuts, pickles, chocolates, crackers and more - toys, and toiletries. — Manager Liz Jermy said the hampers are "truly from the community"

As well as "ambient Christmas food" like crisps and Christmas puddings, the team are also packaging up toys for children.

"We're trying to be as bespoke as we can," said food bank manager Liz Jermy.

The hampers are "truly from the community," she said, explaining that most of the items are donated by businesses or individual donors.

They also contain vouchers for a free visit to National Trust property Chirk Castle just over the border in Wales, as well as cash vouchers to buy basic items to top up the festive treats.

"It really opens your eyes to a wider community and what actually we do together as businesses and charities," Ms Jermy said.