Basket Brigade to deliver cheery Chrissie hampers to over 5,000 people ...

24 November 2008 | Basket Brigade

With Christmas fast approaching, now is the time to think of others ...

The Basket Brigade has been doing exactly this for the past 13 years. An international volunteer initiative commenced by motivational speaker Anthony Robbins, Basket Brigade prepares and delivers thousands of cheery Christmas hampers full of food, toys and clothing to those in need every year.

The Christmas Basket Brigade began in Australia in 1995. With 9 divisions in locations across the country, more brigades are starting up every year. These hampers are only made possible by donations of gifts from individuals and businesses.

Targeting those families and individuals who are facing a challenge and need a helping hand, but are often too proud to ask for help; the Basket Brigade are aiming to deliver hampers to more than 5,000 people this Christmas. Festive Items such as Christmas puddings, biscuits, mince pies and lollies are always appreciated by our recipients.

There are women and children in refuges on the list, along with elderly men and women staying in resident rooms across Sydney, which will receive the Basket Brigade hampers as a sign that there is still love and hope in the world for them.

Rather than delivered by a charity, which some proud recipients feel are ‘hand-outs’, the hampers are delivered anonymously, and can go to the homeless, the ill, the elderly, families having a tough time or anyone in need. A card is included which states “This is from someone who cares about you. All that we ask is that you take care of yourself well enough to be able to do this for someone else someday”.

Julie Bowden, director of the Magic Moments Foundation and an avid member of the Sydney Basket Brigade often tells people about the mother and 2 children that she delivered to in Dee Why one year.

“The lady was from the “battered women” support group and was living in a Housing Commission flat with her two little girls. The oldest girl had just finished her first year at school and the other little one was only three.”

“The mother had tears in her eyes when she received her hamper, which included individually wrapped gifts for the girls. She told us that her school aged girl had started talking about what she wanted Santa to bring and, because she had absolutely no money to buy gifts, she had to tell the girls that Santa was very busy this year and might not have the money or time to call on them.”

Julie continued that the little girls were so excited and jumped around on receiving the gifts. “Santa didn’t forget us Mummy.” We hugged (with tears in our eyes!) and she said, “you don’t know what a difference this will make to my family knowing that someone cares about us so much to do this”.

A key highlight of the Basket Brigade campaign is the packing day, when hundreds of volunteers descend on huge packing sheds around the country to sort, select and wrap all manner of goodies into the estimated 5,000 hamper baskets.

Pia Vogel and Guy McGrath volunteered as packers last year in Sydney and were so impressed by the initiative, they are now involved with Sydney’s Basket Brigade committee, sourcing corporate donations for the hampers.

Ms Vogel commented, “The atmosphere at last year’s event was outstanding. Over 300 people donated their time to pack, wrap and deliver the Christmas hampers to those less fortunate than ourselves.”

“Although known as the ‘Festive Season’, Christmas can be a lonely and difficult time for many people. If we can spread the Christmas cheer by delivering some cheery hampers full of goodies, it can really add some unexpected joy to their lives.”

Pia continued that this year has been extremely challenging to source corporate donations, due to the global financial crisis. “The corporates have been battening down their hatches when it comes to spending and donating as a response to current world-wide economic pressures. We are hoping this will change as Christmas approaches and they will again open to helping those in need.”

This year’s Packing and Delivery day is Saturday 13th December 2008. We welcome Corportates who want to help during the setup Day on Wednesday 10th December.

More information

To volunteer or donate food to the Basket Brigade in your state or to adopt a granny in Sydney, visit www.magicmoments.org.au

For further comments, please contact:

Julie Bowden
Director of Magic Moments Foundation
T 0406 488 213

Pia Vogel
Basket Brigade Committee Member and Corporate Donations
E sbbcorporatedonations@magicmoments.org.au
T 0411 876 366