The Glasgow Basket Brigade, a volunteer run program dedicated to supporting those in need, has launched an appeal for 1500 supporters to donate festive treats for those that need it most this Christmas.
Last year more than 400 Glasgow Basket Brigade supporters came together to donate, fill and distribute 500 food baskets across Glasgow - giving more than 2000 people a Christmas dinner to enjoy at home.
This year, working within the challenges presented by the pandemic, the organisation have created an “at home” model to ensure the movement can continue and families in need can benefit from the generosity of the community.
Supporters of The Glasgow Basket Brigade 2020 will be asked to fund, fill and decorate a Christmas basket worth £15, before delivering it to one of the multiple Glasgow Basket Brigade drop-off hubs located throughout the city.
The team behind the organisation are not only seeking individuals, but also community groups and local companies to take part and to donate baskets in bulk.
Supporters can sign-up via the website where they can choose to create one of five types of baskets: Preen and Pamper, Christmas Treats, Comfy and Cosy, Baby’s First Christmas and Merry Sanitised Christmas.
Each basket theme has been designed to ensure nobody is forgotten this Christmas, from people living alone to newborn babies.
The Glasgow Basket Brigade’s Founding Chair, Louise Graham, an Impact Mentor and Coach from Glasgow, said: “Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, but the benefits can be even greater for the volunteer.
"This year, The Glasgow Basket Brigade team has developed a format that is not only Covid safe, but that presents a great opportunity for people to feel AND spread some much needed Christmas spirit - something we are all in desperate need of.
“It has been a remarkably challenging year of unprecedented health and social challenges, hardship and suffering; but it’s also been a year where human spirit, compassion and community have prevailed.
"This year’s Glasgow Basket Brigade hopes to harness all of those wonderful things, whilst directly benefiting those in need at such a meaningful time.
"Shared effort can create powerful outcomes, so we really hope people sign-up and get involved with what we hope will become Scotland’s biggest-ever chain of human kindness.”
The Glasgow Basket Brigade is working with a network of more than thirty local charities, food banks and community support organisations to ensure each and every basket reaches those most in need.
On December 9 until the 19, those partners will act as the official drop-off hubs for volunteers to deliver their baskets anonymously, before they are handed-out to those in need.
Audrey Flannagan, Manager of South East Foodbank - one of The Glasgow Basket Brigade’s community partners, added: "The Glasgow Basket Brigade helps spread love and remind our users that there are many people out there who care and who are willing to help them to have a better Christmas.
"Parcels of treats and toiletries make a great addition to the Christmas food parcels the food bank provides, especially for those with children"
For those who sign-up to donate and create a basket, The Glasgow Basket Brigade has created a bespoke playlist of joyful Christmas songs, which can be downloaded and played while crafting in the comfort of your own home.
Volunteers are also being invited to take part in a series of virtual crafting workshops and to share images of their creative baskets on social media using the hashtag #GlasgowHumanChainOfKindness.
Basket Brigade Glasgow is a community drive and is part of The Tony Robbins Foundation. For more information, visit the website.
