Andover Foodbank is calling on the local community to come together this Christmas and help ensure that individuals and families facing financial hardship are not forgotten during the festive season.
Christmas is traditionally a time for families to come together, share food, exchange gifts and make memories. However, for many people across Andover, the cost of everyday essentials remains a daily struggle – with the additional expense of Christmas bringing even greater pressure.
This year, Andover Foodbank is asking local residents, schools, churches, clubs, businesses and community groups to help wrap the community in kindness by supporting its annual Christmas appeal.
The Foodbank’s mission is to support people who cannot afford the essentials, providing emergency help when it is needed most while working towards a future where food banks are no longer needed.
Those receiving support are also encouraged to meet with the Foodbank’s Citizens Advice caseworker, who can help people maximise their income, address financial difficulties and explore ways of building a more secure future.
At Christmas, however, the charity wants to go beyond providing the essentials and make sure those experiencing hardship know that their community cares about them.
Alongside its usual Foodbank support, Andover Foodbank provides Christmas Gift boxes for children and festive Hampers for individuals and families. These are distributed to people referred to the Foodbank who are struggling to afford everyday essentials.
A Gift box can mean that a parent has something special for their child to open on Christmas morning, while a Hamper can provide a family with festive treats they may otherwise have to go without.
For someone worried about how they will make it through Christmas, the charity says these relatively simple gestures can provide some much-needed joy, dignity and hope.
One local care worker, speaking about the scheme last year, said:
“The hampers allow our families to have a little bit extra as they are unable to afford treats or extra condiments, and the gift boxes allow them to ensure their children have gifts or a stocking.”
How people can help this Christmas
There are several ways people across Andover can support the Foodbank’s Christmas campaign.
Fill a Gift box
Residents can help make Christmas morning special for a local child by filling a Gift box with new, age-appropriate items.
Gift boxes need to be delivered to Andover Foodbank by Friday 13 November 2026, allowing care workers enough time to collect them and discreetly distribute them to families ahead of Christmas.
Donate a Hamper
People can also take part in the Foodbank’s 12 Days to Christmas project, collecting one item each day for 12 days or shopping for all the items at once to create a complete festive Hamper.
Completed Hampers need to be delivered by Sunday 22 November 2026.
Make a financial donation
For those who do not have time to shop, financial donations can also make a significant difference.
A £20 donation can fund a child’s Gift box, £30 can provide a festive Hamper, while £100 can help support a family at Christmas.
Every donation will help Andover Foodbank ensure people within the local community do not have to face Christmas without some of the things many take for granted.
Donations can be made securely through the Andover Foodbank website.
Christmas supermarket collections
Andover Foodbank will also be holding three major supermarket collections in the run-up to Christmas, giving shoppers the opportunity to donate while doing their own shopping.
The first will take place at Sainsbury’s on 30 and 31 October between 10am and 4pm. Volunteers will be handing out shopping lists, with customers invited to add an extra item or two to their trolley before donating them to the Foodbank.
A second collection will be held at Asda on 13 and 14 November, again between 10am and 4pm, helping the charity stock up on essential food and household items ahead of the winter and Christmas period.
The Foodbank’s major Christmas collection will then take place at Tesco from 26 to 29 November.
The Tesco collection traditionally brings an added festive atmosphere, with school choirs, bands and community groups helping to entertain shoppers while volunteers collect items from the Foodbank’s Christmas shopping list.
Andover Foodbank is also looking for volunteers to help at the collections.
Individuals, community groups and corporate teams are all encouraged to take part, spending a few hours meeting people from across the community while helping local families facing difficult circumstances.
Annie Mihell, Secretary of Andover Foodbank, said:
“Every year we are humbled by the generosity of our community. Christmas is such a special time, and we know that for some families it can also bring enormous financial pressure. The kindness of local people can make a world of difference.
“None of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers, who give their time to sort, pack and deliver every single box and hamper. Together, the generosity of our community and the dedication of our volunteers mean that families can celebrate Christmas with dignity, joy and hope.
“We’d love everyone in Andover to get involved this Christmas. Whether it’s adding an extra tin to your shopping trolley, filling a Gift box, donating a Hamper, volunteering for a few hours or making a donation, every act of kindness adds up.”
Andover Foodbank’s Christmas projects are made possible by the support of local individuals, schools, churches, businesses, clubs and community groups, alongside the volunteers working behind the scenes to collect, sort, pack and distribute donations.
The charity is hoping the town will once again come together this year to make sure nobody in the community feels forgotten at Christmas.
For more information, to make a donation, find out about Christmas Gift boxes and Hampers or sign up to volunteer, visit Andover Foodbank’s website at www.andoverfoodbank.org.uk.