22 December 2008

Holiday Hampers for Londoners in Need

Over 70 women volunteers bring Christmas cheer to more than 1300 people
The Junior League of London has donated almost 900 personalised hampers to those in need over this holiday period, in which many families are feeling more pressures than usual.  73 volunteers gave up 20 hours of their time to unload crates of goods, from foodstuffs to essential toiletry items, and children’s toys, games and sports equipment and pack them into large red crates for families and re-usable canvas bags for the elderly.

An annual event that has been happening for the past 12 years, the hampers will reach almost 400 elderly and 500 families – around 1,350 individuals over the coming weeks.  The Holiday Hampers programme is one of our longest running and most successful outreach projects. The programme not only delivers gifts and essential basics to those in need over the holiday season, but provides parents that are in unfortunate circumstances the chance to give their children a present.  Alongside this, the new Junior League member class spent Saturday 6 December with the London based charity Eaves Women’s Aid donating holiday hampers to six Eaves houses.

“Some families think this will be their worst Christmas ever,” said Christine Mohrmann, Community VP.  “We want to provide them with a little Christmas cheer and something to help them get through this time.  With more than half of children in inner London living in poverty, these disadvantaged kids will be encouraged to read, play sports and use their minds with just one gift.”

The Junior League of London works with thirteen charities to identify the neediest of families.  The programme is dependent on the donation of goods and services to include not only assembly space, storage and delivery services, and printing, but also non-perishable food items, toiletries, small household goods, gender and age specific gifts, toys, games and books.

About the Junior League of London

The Junior League of London is a UK registered charity comprised of women committed to promoting voluntary service, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. A member of the Association of Junior Leagues International and active in London since 1978, the JLL has over 400 volunteer members who provide more than 20,000 hours of service to the community each year through dedicated programmes that support its vision of eliminating poverty and its effects in London. The JLL raises funds through a book for recent arrivals to the capital called Living in London, a week-long shopping event in the Spring (6-15 March 2009) called London Spree, Boutique de Noel (3-4 November 2009),  corporate giving, grants and members’ dues.

To learn more about the Junior League and its community projects, to buy a 2009 London Spree Card, to purchase a copy of Living in London, or to find out about the JLL’s next New Members’ Course for volunteers – visit www.jll.org.uk or phone the Junior League office on 020 7499 8159.

Registered Charity Number: 1103298   Registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in England No 5045667

The Holiday Hamper Programme currently reaches the following Community Agencies:
Cardinal Hume, Eaves Women’s Aid, Eaves Housing, Family Friends, Field Lane Foundation, Havengrove, Hestia, Notting Hill Housing Trust, Richardson House, Sure Start, West London Action for Children, Family Welfare Association and St Vincent’s Family Project.

With a dedicated storage facility, the Holiday Hampers programme is able to accept donations throughout the year.