Redbridge Council distributes Christmas food hampers and hot meals to help support local people

This week, Council staff, the Leader and the Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council, have been distributing food hampers to local children and families who may not have had enough to eat this Christmas. The hampers were filled with fresh food and grocery essentials donated by local businesses, to help make sure families living in hotel accommodation or hostels, and other people in need, have enough to eat this Christmas.

The community social work team recognised that many of the families they support were grappling with the cost of living, and were concerned some local people may not have had enough to eat, or a hot meal at all this Christmas. They received some funding from the Household Support Fund, and worked with local businesses who kindly discounted groceries that went into the hampers.

All those who received a hamper are being helped beyond Christmas and into 2024 with additional support.

This follows our other work this week, delivering over 600 warm packs to older people in Redbridge, containing blankets, gloves, and energy and food vouchers, and our work across the winter, providing warm spaces in libraries and other local places, for people to come and spend time.

Cllr Kam Rai, Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council said: “In our work at the Council, and in our own daily lives, we can see how local families are struggling with the cost of living crisis. We will always do whatever we can to support people who are in need. I hope the hampers will go a small way to give families enough breathing space to be able to enjoy being together over the holidays. I’d like to thank local businesses including Sadaf Halal Food on Longwood Gardens and Singhberry’s, who supported this project by donating or discounting groceries. There is so much love and care in Redbridge. Our borough is full of people who pull together and look after each other.”