Bury St Edmunds charity needs your help to make Christmas shine for those in need

After a challenging year for foodbanks up and down the country, a Bury St Edmunds charity needs your help to make this Christmas extra special for those in need.

Gatehouse, in Dettingen Way, has joined forces with the SuffolkNews to launch its annual Christmas appeal for donations, including tinned and packet foods, toiletries and new clothes.

These will go towards making hundreds of hampers for families and individuals so they can enjoy a Christmas meal.

Gatehouse expects to hand out about 700 parcels over the holiday season.

Chief executive Amanda Bloomfield said this year had been tough, with foodbank use on the rise.

It is currently handing out an average of 40 to 50 parcels of food per week.

Amanda said: “Even donating one tin to the cause can make a massive difference to how many hampers we are able to donate.

“It’s important to remember that most people are just two pay packets away from needing to rely on a food parcel – it’s an issue that affects a lot of people, especially this time of year.

“This year, in particular, has been tougher than it ever has been before. We’ve seen an increase on the number of people relying on food parcels each week.

“We’ve also seen more types of people coming in, with more complex needs.”

Donations can be handed in to the Bury Free Press’ office in King’s Road, Gatehouse in Dettingen Way, The Apex, Waitrose or the Co-Op in Out Risbygate.

Gatehouse is looking for the following items:

- Vegetables (tinned)

- Fruit (tinned or jarred)

- Jams

- Meat and fish (tinned)

- Tomatoes (tinned)

- Soup

- Baked beans

- Pasta and rice (dried)

- Crisps

- Biscuits

- Tea and coffee

- Hot chocolate

- UHT milk

- Ketchup

- Brown sauce

- Toothpaste

- Shampoo

- Conditioner

- Shower gel

Plus:

- Christmas puddings

- Custard

- Stuffing mix

- Cranberry sauce

- Bread sauce

- Gravy granules

- Chocolate