A charity campaign which “makes Christmas” for some of Middlesbrough’s most vulnerable will help more than 6,000 people this year. Over the last four decades the Cause Foundation’s Christmas Hamper Campaign has brought festive cheer to households in need across the area.
Starting in 1987 with just 25 hampers at what was then Newlands School, the Cause Christmas Hamper Campaign has now developed into a year-round support system for people in crisis in Middlesbrough and across Teesside.
In recent years, demand has soared – especially over the festive period – with the Cause team distributing around 1,870 food and gift hampers to families in our area, all of which have been kindly and lovingly put together by their incredible donors who ‘adopt’ a local family.
And the Cause team have once again thanked the people of our region for their generosity – after urgently appealing for extra donations to fulfil around 100 pledged hampers which had not been dropped off with the team.
But thanks to the generosity of our area, the hampers were filled in just a few hours following a public appeal and are now ready to be delivered to homes before Christmas.
Julie Hull, from the Cause Foundation, said: “Firstly, I would just like to thank our amazing supporters who help us support some of the most vulnerable families in our area – not just at Christmas, but all year round.
“We are overwhelmed and astounded at how everyone pulled together and helped us fill the remaining hampers. Tears have been shed and we are so grateful.
“We couldn’t do it without you. But demand keeps on growing and more and more families are helped each year – not just at Christmas, but all year round.”
The hamper campaign is a huge logistical undertaking for the volunteers from the Cause Foundation.
A large number of donations which are made to the charity are usually stored in the homes and garages of trustees – but this year, Mayor Chris Cooke offered the campaign use of Middlesbrough Council’s MyPlace, the former Custom House in Middlehaven, as a base to collect and sort.
“Using money that is donated to us from individuals and businesses, we’d already made up a number of hampers this year on top of those pledged for donation, so being able to utilise MyPlace to bring everything together is huge for our charity,” continued Julie.
“I’d like to thank Mayor Cooke, the staff at MyPlace and everyone at Middlesbrough Council for their help and support.”
Cause receives nominations from social services teams, schools and other charities to provide hampers for the families most in need right across Teesside, while the charity also helps to run a food bank, organises school holiday hunger campaigns and responds to crisis requests for essential items like beds, bedding, small household items and food.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “The Cause Foundation is a shining example of the incredible kindness of Middlesbrough people.
“Every year it makes Christmas possible for some of Middlesbrough’s mos vulnerable individuals and families and the work of its trustees never fails to impress me.
“When we were made aware that they needed a bit of help, we were only to happy to support them by offering them use of facilities at MyPlace.
“There are a significant number of people in Middlesbrough and across Teesside who rely on the Cause Foundation during Christmas. It is crucial that people continue to support the charity and the amazing work they are doing in our community."
Starting in 1987 with just 25 hampers at what was then Newlands School, the Cause Christmas Hamper Campaign has now developed into a year-round support system for people in crisis in Middlesbrough and across Teesside.
In recent years, demand has soared – especially over the festive period – with the Cause team distributing around 1,870 food and gift hampers to families in our area, all of which have been kindly and lovingly put together by their incredible donors who ‘adopt’ a local family.
And the Cause team have once again thanked the people of our region for their generosity – after urgently appealing for extra donations to fulfil around 100 pledged hampers which had not been dropped off with the team.
But thanks to the generosity of our area, the hampers were filled in just a few hours following a public appeal and are now ready to be delivered to homes before Christmas.
Julie Hull, from the Cause Foundation, said: “Firstly, I would just like to thank our amazing supporters who help us support some of the most vulnerable families in our area – not just at Christmas, but all year round.
“We are overwhelmed and astounded at how everyone pulled together and helped us fill the remaining hampers. Tears have been shed and we are so grateful.
“We couldn’t do it without you. But demand keeps on growing and more and more families are helped each year – not just at Christmas, but all year round.”
The hamper campaign is a huge logistical undertaking for the volunteers from the Cause Foundation.
A large number of donations which are made to the charity are usually stored in the homes and garages of trustees – but this year, Mayor Chris Cooke offered the campaign use of Middlesbrough Council’s MyPlace, the former Custom House in Middlehaven, as a base to collect and sort.
“Using money that is donated to us from individuals and businesses, we’d already made up a number of hampers this year on top of those pledged for donation, so being able to utilise MyPlace to bring everything together is huge for our charity,” continued Julie.
“I’d like to thank Mayor Cooke, the staff at MyPlace and everyone at Middlesbrough Council for their help and support.”
Cause receives nominations from social services teams, schools and other charities to provide hampers for the families most in need right across Teesside, while the charity also helps to run a food bank, organises school holiday hunger campaigns and responds to crisis requests for essential items like beds, bedding, small household items and food.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “The Cause Foundation is a shining example of the incredible kindness of Middlesbrough people.
“Every year it makes Christmas possible for some of Middlesbrough’s mos vulnerable individuals and families and the work of its trustees never fails to impress me.
“When we were made aware that they needed a bit of help, we were only to happy to support them by offering them use of facilities at MyPlace.
“There are a significant number of people in Middlesbrough and across Teesside who rely on the Cause Foundation during Christmas. It is crucial that people continue to support the charity and the amazing work they are doing in our community."