THIS Christmas Bournemouth Foodbank aims deliver as many as 200 hampers to local families in crisis so that they can celebrate and eat together.

Working in partnership with many partner agencies, the foodbank hopes to bring to the front door everything each family needs for three days.

The hampers will include fresh and frozen food, Christmas goodies and a message of hope for the New Year from the Bible.

Next Thursday (December 20), a fleet of around 60 volunteer drivers will take more 6 tonnes of food to feed up to 1,000 people in need.

AFC Bournemouth and England striker Callum Wilson said he supported the initiative.

“When I was growing up, I remember my family using foodbanks and receiving food parcels around Christmas time," he said.

"As a young kid, you don’t fully understand what’s going on but, looking back, they were crucial to our family to ensure everyone was fed and so that we could celebrate Christmas properly.

"Bournemouth Foodbank is a fantastic organisation. I was privileged to see their work earlier this year and they play such an important role in the local community.

"Without them, there would be a lot of people who would go without, so I would encourage everyone to donate generously to them.”

The effort is made possible thanks to a support from dozens of local churches, businesses, statutory agencies and community groups. The bodies are contributing towards the project by nominating families, donating food, recruiting volunteers or giving financially.

Many groups are going out of their way to support the project, including Nationwide Building Society, who are making their facilities available for the storage and packing of the hampers, Foresters Financial, who are providing £2,000 to buy the fresh and frozen food and Bournemouth University Student Union, who are decorating the hampers.

Ed Briggs, who is co-ordinating the hamper initiative, said: “This is a huge team effort and I’m so grateful to all our supporters.

“I believe that by working together, Bournemouth as a community can break the cycle of poverty that keeps families apart and isolates individuals. Let’s be a society that draws people in, rather than pushes them out.

“There’s still plenty to be done and I want to encourage people to continue to give food, time and money to support the project.”

For information about how you can be involved in the project visit bournemouth.foodbank.org.uk/hampers​.